Swimmer's Ear (Otitis Externa)
What is swimmer's ear?
Swimmer's ear is an infection of the skin lining the ear
canal. Ear canals need to be dry. When water gets trapped
in the ear canal the lining becomes damp and swollen and
tends to become infected.
Your child probably has swimmers ear if:
- Your child has itchy and painful ear canals.
- Your child has been swimming recently.
- Your child feels pain when the earlobe is moved up and
down.
- Your child feels pain when the tab of the outer ear
overlying the ear canal is pushed in.
- The ear feels plugged up.
- There is a slight amount of clear discharge at first.
Without treatment, the discharge becomes yellowish.
How can I take care of my child?
- For mild swimmer's ear, use white vinegar mixed with
equal parts of water. Fill the ear canal with the
vinegar mixture. After 5 minutes, remove it by turning
the head to the side. Do this twice a day.
- For severe swimmer's ear, use antibiotic-steroid
eardrops. (These require a prescription.) Run the
eardrops down the side of the ear opening so that air
isn't trapped under the drops. Then move the ear lobe
back and forth to help the eardrops go down into the ear.
Continue using the eardrops until 48 hours after all the
symptoms have cleared up.
- Use acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) for pain
relief.
How can I prevent swimmer's ear?
After the infection is cured, rinse your child's ear canals
with rubbing alcohol each time he finishes swimming or
bathing.
Call your child's doctor right away if:
- The ear pain becomes severe.
- Your child starts acting very sick.
Call your child's doctor during office hours if:
- The ear becomes severely painful.
- The ear symptoms are not cleared up in 7 days.
- You have other concerns or questions.
Written by B.D. Schmitt, M.D., author of "Your Child's Health," Bantam Books.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.