Summertime is meant for long days spent by the pool, where kids delight in cannonballing into the deep end, diving for torpedoes, and splashing around with their friends. However, after all this fun, you might hear your child complain of ear pain, a common sign of swimmer’s ear.
What is Swimmer’s Ear?
Swimmer’s ear, medically referred to as acute otitis externa, is a bacterial infection that develops when water remains in the outer ear canal for an extended period. This creates a moist environment where bacteria thrive, breaking down the protective earwax and skin.
Children are more prone to developing swimmer’s ear compared to adults because their ear canals are smaller and curvier, making it easier for water to stay trapped in the ear. Additionally, children tend to spend more time in the water than adults, making them more prone to these infections.
Injury to the ear canal – sometimes from the improper use of cotton swabs – or skin conditions such as eczema or seborrheic dermatitis may make a child more susceptible to swimmer’s ear. Children with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses have a higher chance of developing swimmer’s ear and may have a higher risk of the infection spreading and becoming more aggressive.
Causes of the infection can include:
- Water trapped in the ear canal
- Chemical irritation
- Damaged ear canal, which causes inflammation or allows infection
Your child’s risk for infection increases with:
- Frequent swimming in warm, dirty, or chlorinated water
- Soap left in the ear canal
- Narrow ear canals
- Damage from skin conditions or foreign objects
Symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear
It’s important to recognize the signs of an ear infection in children early – early detection can help in managing the condition more effectively.
Here are common symptoms to watch out for:
- Pain when the outer ear is pulled
- Pain when pressure is put on the outer ear (the tragus)
- Itchiness inside the ear
- Drainage from the ear
- Redness and swelling in the ear
- A low-grade fever (rarely more than one or two degrees above normal)
In more severe cases, the pain from the infection will be constant and intense. Children may cry and hold their hand over their ear. The slightest motion, even chewing, may hurt significantly. The ear canal opening may appear red, and swollen shut, with pus or cheesy material oozing out of the ear.
When Should a Parent Be Concerned About Swimmer’s Ear?
If your child is displaying any of the above symptoms, they should be seen by a medical professional for an evaluation.
To alleviate your child’s pain until you can see a pediatrician, you can give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Once you see your child’s pediatrician, they will examine the ear and clean out any pus and debris from the canal. They may prescribe antibiotic, or antibiotic-corticosteroid combo ear drops for five to seven days to fight the ear infection. In more severe cases or if the infection has spread beyond the ear canal, oral antibiotics may be prescribed. Once treatment starts, your child will start to feel better in a day or two. Swimmer’s ear is usually cured within seven to 10 days of starting treatment.
If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, ensure your child takes it exactly as directed and completes the entire course. Even if your child appears to be improving after a few days, the infection may not be fully cleared from the ear. Stopping the medication early can result in the infection returning.
While your child is undergoing treatment for swimmer’s ear, avoid getting water in the ear during this period. You can avoid water getting in your child’s ear by using ear plugs or a shower cap when bathing. It is essential to avoid swimming. Additionally, be sure to attend your child's follow-up appointment so the doctor can confirm the infection is gone.
How to Prevent Swimmer’s Ear
Preventative measures are usually unnecessary unless your child frequently suffers from swimmer’s ear or has had a recent infection. If your child is prone to ear infections, these tips may help to lessen the occurrence:
- Use a bathing cap, ear plugs, or custom-fitted swim molds when swimming
- Limit their time in the water to less than an hour
- Dry ears thoroughly after swimming or showering with a towel
- Pull the earlobe in different directions when the ear faces down to help water drain out
- Hold a hair dryer several inches from the ear on the lowest heat and speed
- Refrain from removing ear wax
- DO NOT put objects in the ear canal, including cotton-tip swabs
Consult your health care provider about using ear-drying drops for your child after swimming. Avoid using these drops if your child has ear tubes, an active swimmer’s ear infection, ear drainage or a punctured eardrum.
For those with recurrent infections, it may be best to use ear plugs to prevent water from entering the ear canal. It may also be worth it to invest in an ear dryer to keep outer ear canals dry – eliminating a moist environment where bacteria thrive.
It’s important to note that your child does not have to swim to get swimmer’s ear – any injury to the ear canal’s skin can cause an infection. Factors such as dry skin, eczema, scratching the ear canal, or ear cleaning with cotton swabs can all damage the ear lining and increase the risk of otitis externa.
Swimmer’s ear is never fun, especially for kids, but with the proper treatment, your child will soon be back to enjoying their favorite water activities. Following the prescribed medication regimen, keeping the ear dry and attending follow-up appointments will ensure a quick and effective recovery, allowing your child to cannonball and splash around with their friends again in no time.
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