Ear, Swimmer's


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Main Symptoms

An infection of the skin that lines the ear canal.
Itchy and somewhat painful ear canal.
Currently engaged in swimming.
Discomfort when the ear is moved up and down.
The ear feels plugged.
Discharge is slight in amount and clear.

Cause

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.

See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If

Doesn't look like swimmer's ear, see EARACHE or EAR CONGESTION.
(To go directly to this these topics, click on the links following this document.)

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR EAR, SWIMMER'S

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

Your child looks or acts very sick.
Severe pain.
Fever.
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.
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 FOR MILD SWIMMER'S EAR

1. White Vinegar Rinses:

Rinse the ear canals twice a day with ½ strength white vinegar (dilute it with equal parts warm water). Fill the ear canal. After 5 minutes, remove it 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.)

2. Pain Medicine: Give acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain relief.

3. 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.

4. Reduce Swimming Times: Try to avoid swimming until symptoms are gone. If on a swim team, it's OK to continue. Swimming may slow recovery, but causes no serious harm.

5. Contagiousness: Swimmer's ear is not contagious.

6. Expected Course: With treatment, symptoms should be better in 3 days.

7. 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). 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).

8. Call Your Doctor If:

Ear symptoms last for more than 3 days after treatment.
Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.

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.
Pediatric HouseCall Online. Copyright © 2000-2003 Barton Schmitt, M.D. FAAP
Reviewed 8/2003

Revised 7/2002

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Lucile Packard Children's Hospital is located in Palo Alto, adjacent to Stanford University Hospital, approximately 20 miles north of San Jose, CA and 40 miles south of San Francisco.

Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
725 Welch Road
Palo Alto, California 94304
(650) 497-8000