Kid Tips - Swimmer's Ear

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During the summer months, more and more parents will find themselves confronted by this common complaint. Swimmer’s ear, or otitis externa, is an irritation of the external ear canal. This is frequently seen in association with swimming, but can be produced by many causes. Water from pools, lakes, even bathtubs and showers may be trapped within the ear canal. However, it is most commonly associated with swimming, particularly in lakes.

The ear has mechanisms that help prevent water from entering and causing swimmer’s ear. Generally, the wax in the ear canal prevents the water from entering. Earwax is an oily substance, which is produced by the ear as a mechanism to keep it clean. It is formed deep in the canal and carries dirt and debris outward. Because it is oily, water does not like it. So, water from the pool usually won’t get past it.

Sometimes, however, water manages to get past the wax. This might happen when diving, when the pressure forces the water in, or when bathing, when the soap allows the water to slip past the wax. However the water gets in there, the oily nature of the wax prevents it from escaping. It becomes trapped, deep in the ear canal. The water provides a wonderful environment for bacteria and fungus (yes, fungus) to grow. This irritates the ear canal and causes discomfort. Pushing on the tragus (the little bump in front of the ear hole) or pulling on the outer ear moves the canal and will cause exquisite pain.

Once swimmer’s ear is well established, it can be difficult to eradicate. Therefore, it is important to recognize it early and treat it before it progresses. You can try home remedies if you suspect swimmer’s ear. One of the most effective is to mix equal amounts of white vinegar and water. Place several drops in your child’s ear and gently massage. Repeat twice daily until your child’s symptoms have been gone for two days. Don’t use rubbing alcohol if you think your child already has swimmer's ear, as this would be very painful in an inflamed ear.
Before you use any home remedies, see the warnings below.

Once your child’s ear has healed, you can use a mixture of equal parts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol as a preventive measure after every trip to the pool. Place a few drops in each ear and massage, as outlined above. This dries out the ear canal, preventing the buildup of water that leads to the problem. It also restores the normal pH of the tissues.

Warnings

Although very painful, swimmer’s ear does not produce fever or cause the child to look ill. Also, some cases are too difficult for home remedies and require other treatments. Therefore, if you see any of the following, call your doctor for further advice:

• If your child has blood or pus draining from the ear
• If your child has or develops a fever
• If your child starts to look ill (this is very subjective, I know, but I have always trusted parents’ instincts on how sick their children are)
• If your child’s ear shows no improvement after two or three days of treatment, or if the symptoms are getting much worse at any time.

As always, if you have any questions, please call your doctor.

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This patient education handout provided courtesy of the
University of Kansas Department of Pediatrics.
Copyright 2003-2006 KU Pediatrics. All rights reserved