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Swimmer's Ear

Description / Symptoms

  • An infection of the skin that lines the ear canal
  • Itchy and somewhat painful ear canal
  • Currently engaged in swimming
  • Discomfort when the ear is moved up and down
  • The ear feels plugged
  • Discharge is slight in amount and clear

Cause

When water repeatedly gets trapped in the ear canal, the lining becomes wet and swollen. This makes it prone to superficial infection (swimmer's ear). Ear canals were meant to be dry.

See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one)

If doesn't look like swimmer's ear, see Earache (Ear Pain) or Ear Congestion.

When to Call Your Doctor for Swimmer's Ear

Call Your Doctor Now If:

  • Your child looks or acts very sick
  • Severe pain
  • Fever
  • Redness and swelling of outer ear

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours If:

  • You think your child needs to be seen
  • Constant ear pain
  • Yellow discharge from ear canal
  • Blocked ear canal
  • Swollen lymph node near ear
  • Cause is uncertain

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Hours If:

  • You have other questions or concerns

Home Care (Read "Call Your Doctor…" first):

White Vinegar Rinses

Rinse the ear canals twice a day with ½ strength white vinegar (dilute it with equal parts warm water). Fill the ear canal. After 5 minutes, remove it 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).

Pain Medicine

Give acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain relief.

Local Heat

If pain is moderate to severe, apply a heating pad or hot water bottle to outer ear for 20 minutes. This will also increase drainage.

Reduce Swimming Times

Try to avoid swimming until symptoms are gone. If on a swim team, it's okay to continue. Swimming may slow recovery, but causes no serious harm.

Contagiousness

Swimmer's ear is not contagious.

Expected Course

With treatment, symptoms should be better in 3 days.

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).

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).

Call Your Doctor If:

  • Ear symptoms last > 3 days after treatment
  • Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms

Parent Care for Pediatric Symptoms. Copyright 2000-2009.