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Ear Swimmers

Is this your child's symptom?

  • An infection or irritation of the ear canal from lots of swimming
  • The ear canal is itchy or painful
  • Also caused by using cotton swabs

If NOT, try one of these:

Symptoms of Swimmer's Ear

  • Starts with an itchy ear canal
  • Ear canal can become painful
  • Pain gets worse when you press on the tragus. (The tragus is the tab of tissue in front of the ear.)
  • The ear feels plugged or full
  • Ear discharge may start as the swimmer's ear gets worse
  • No cold symptoms or fever

Cause of Swimmer's Ear

  • Water gets trapped in the ear canal. Then, the lining becomes wet and swollen.
  • This makes it prone to an infection with germs (swimmer's ear).
  • Wax buildup also traps water behind it. Most often, this is caused by cotton swabs.
  • Ear canals were meant to be dry.

When to Call for Ear - Swimmer's

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

  • Severe ear pain and not improved after using care advice
  • Redness and swelling of outer ear
  • Fever over 104° F (40° C)
  • Your child looks or acts very sick
  • You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

  • Yellow discharge or pus from ear canal
  • Fever
  • Blocked ear canal
  • Swollen lymph node near ear
  • You are not sure that ear pain is caused by swimmer's ear
  • Ear symptoms last more than 7 days on treatment
  • You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

  • You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

  • Swimmer's ear with no other problems

Care Advice for Mild Swimmer's Ear

  • What You Should Know About Swimmer's Ear:
    • Swimmer's ear is a mild infection of the ear canal.
    • It's caused by water getting trapped in the ear canal. Ear canals were meant to be dry.
    • Here is some care advice that should help.
  • White Vinegar Rinses:
    • Rinse the ear canals with half-strength white vinegar. Mix vinegar with equal parts warm water. Exception: ear tubes or hole in eardrum.
    • Start by having your child lie down with the painful ear upward.
    • Fill the ear canal.
    • Wait 5 minutes. Then, turn your child's head to the side and move the ear. This will remove the vinegar rinse.
    • Do the other side.
    • Continue twice a day until the ear canal returns to normal.
    • Reason: Restores the normal acid pH of the ear canal and lessens swelling.
  • Pain Medicine:
    • To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
    • Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
    • Use as needed.
  • Heat For Pain:
    • If pain is moderate to severe, use a heating pad (set on low). You can also use a warm wet cloth to outer ear.
    • Do this for 20 minutes. (Caution: Avoid burns). Repeat as needed.
    • This will also increase drainage.
  • Reduce Swimming Times:
    • Try not to swim until symptoms are gone.
    • If on a swim team, it's usually okay to continue.
    • Swimming may slow your child's recovery, but causes no serious harm.
  • Return to School:
    • Swimmer's ear cannot be spread to others.
  • What to Expect:
    • With treatment, symptoms should be better in 3 days.
    • They should be gone in 7 days.
  • Prevention of Swimmer's Ear:
    • Try to keep the ear canals dry.
    • After showers, hair washing, or swimming, help the water run out of ears. Do this by turning the head.
    • Do not use cotton swabs. Reason: Packs in the earwax. The wax buildup then traps water behind it.
    • If swimmer's ear is a frequent problem, rinse the ear canals after swimming. Use a few drops of a white vinegar-rubbing alcohol rinse. Use equal parts of each to make the rinse.
    • Lake water has the greatest risk. Rinse the ear canals with tap water after any lake swimming. Do this until you can get vinegar ear drops.
  • Call Your Doctor If:
    • Ear pain becomes severe
    • Ear symptoms last over 7 days on treatment
    • You think your child needs to be seen
    • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

Copyright 2000-2020 Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.

 

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