Ear - Swimmer's

Symptoms

DEFINITION

• An infection or irritation of the skin that lines the ear canal
• Has recently been swimming or gotten lots of water in the ear canals 

Symptoms

• Itchy and somewhat painful ear canal
• Discomfort when the ear is moved up and down
• The ear feels plugged or full
• Discharge may develop as the swimmer’s ear becomes worse

Causes

• When water repeatedly gets trapped in the ear canal, the lining becomes wet and swollen.
• This makes it prone to a superficial bacterial infection (swimmer's ear).
• Wax buildup also traps water behind it. Usually, this is caused by cotton swabs.
• Ear canals were meant to be dry.

Return to School

• Swimmer's ear is not contagious.  No need to miss any school or child care.

See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If

• Doesn't match the symptoms of swimmer's ear, see EARACHE or EAR CONGESTION

Should I Call?

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR

Care at Home

HOME CARE ADVICE FOR MILD SWIMMER'S EAR

1. White Vinegar Rinses:
   • Rinse the ear canals twice a day with ½ strength white vinegar (dilute it with equal parts warm water).
   • Start by having your child lie down with the affected ear upward.
   • Fill the ear canal.
   • Wait 5 minutes, then remove the vinegar rinse by turning the head to the side and moving the ear. (Exception: ear tubes or hole in eardrum.)
   • Reason: restores the normal acid pH of the ear canal and reduces swelling.
   • Continue until the ear canal returns to normal.
2. Pain Medicine: Give acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain relief.
3. Local Heat: If pain is moderate to severe, apply a heating pad (set on low) or hot water bottle to outer ear for 20 minutes (caution: avoid burns). This will also increase drainage.
4. Reduce Swimming Times: Try to avoid swimming until symptoms are gone. If on a swim team, it's usually OK to continue. Swimming may slow recovery, but causes no serious harm.
5. Contagiousness: Swimmer's ear is not contagious.
6. Expected Course: With treatment, symptoms should be improved in 3 days and resolved in 7 days.
7. Prevention of Recurrences:
   • Try to keep the ear canals dry.
   • After showers, hair washing, and swimming, help the water run out by turning the head.
   • Avoid cotton swabs. (Reason: Packs in the earwax. The wax buildup then traps water behind it).
   • If swimmer's ear is a repeated problem, rinse the ear canals after swimming with a white vinegar-rubbing alcohol solution (equal parts of each).
8. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Ear symptoms last over 7 days on treatment
   • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.