See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one):

• If NOT, try one of these: Earache
• If NOT, try one of these: Earache
• If NOT, try one of these: Ear – Congestion

Is this your child’s symptom

• An infection or irritation of the skin that lines the ear canal
• The ear canal is itchy or painful
• Caused by lots of swimming or using cotton swabs

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.

Return to School

• Swimmer’s ear cannot be spread to others. No need to miss any school or child care.

Call Doctor Now or Go to ER

• 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

Call 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 over 7 days on treatment
• You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Call Doctor During Office Hours

• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

• Swimmer’s ear with no complications

Care Advice for Mild Swimmer’s Ear

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Return to School:
   • Swimmer’s ear cannot be spread to others.
7. What to Expect:
   • With treatment, symptoms should be better in 3 days.
   • They should be gone in 7 days.
8. 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.
9. 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 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.

Copyright 1994-2015 Barton D. Schmitt, MD. All rights reserved.