EAR, SWIMMER'S
SYMPTOM DEFINITION
- An infection or irritation of the skin that lines the ear canal
- Currently engaged in swimming
Symptoms
- Itchy and somewhat painful ear canal
- Discomfort when the ear is moved up and down
- The ear feels plugged
- Discharge is slight in amount and clear
Causes
- 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.
Return to School
- Swimmer's ear is not contagious. No need to miss any school or daycare.
See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If
- Doesn't look like swimmer's ear, see EARACHE or EAR CONGESTION.
WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR
Call your doctor now (night or day) if:
- Your child looks or acts very sick
- Severe pain
- Fever over 104° F (40° C) and not improved 2 hours after fever medicine
- Redness and swelling of outer ear
Call your doctor within 24 hours (between 9am and 4pm) if:
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Constant ear pain
- Yellow discharge from ear canal
- Fever
- Blocked ear canal
- Swollen lymph node near ear
- Cause is uncertain
Call your doctor during weekday office hours if:
- You have other questions or concerns
Parent care at home if:
- Swimmer's ear with no complications.
HOME CARE ADVICE
- White Vinegar Rinses:
- Rinse the ear canals twice a day with 1/2 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.
- Pain Medicine: Give acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain relief.
- 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.
- 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.
- Contagiousness: Swimmer's ear is not contagious.
- Expected Course: With treatment, symptoms should be improved in 3 days and resolved in 7 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 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).
- Call Your Doctor If:
- Ear symptoms last over 7 days on treatment
- Your child becomes worse
And remember, contact your doctor if your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.
REFERENCES
- Bojrab D, Bruderly T, Abdulrazzak Y. Diseases of the external auditory canal: Otitis externa. Otolaryngol Clin. 1996;29:761-782.
- Canto RM. Otitis externa and otitis media: A new look at old problems. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 1995;13:445-455.
- Consensus Panel. Use of ototopical antibiotics in treating 3 common ear diseases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000;122:934-40.
- Hughes E and Lee JH. Otitis externa. Pediatr Rev. 2001;22:191-197.
- Marcy SM. Infections of the external ear. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1985;4:192-201.
- Rubin J, et al. Malignant external otitis in children. J Pediatr. 1988;113:965-70.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.
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