Tips for Preventing & Treating Swimmer's Ear

For many kids, the chance to go swimming nearly every day is one of the highlights of summer. Unfortunately, all that time in the water can lead to a painful ear infection.

Often referred to as swimmer’s ear, otitis externa occurs when the skin in the ear canal becomes irritated by too much moisture in the ear. The weakened skin allows various types of bacteria and fungi in, which can lead to an infection.

Common signs of swimmer’s ear include: ears that appear red or swollen, pain in the ear canal, muffled hearing or hearing loss, itchy ears, pain when touching or wiggling your earlobe or chewing, a full or plugged-up sensation in the ear, swollen glands, fever, and pus draining from your ear.

While swimmer’s ear is rarely serious, if the infection spreads beyond the ear (think: skull and brain), it can become problematic.  A quick and early diagnosis is key to getting ahead of the infection and getting kids back to the fun.

Swimmer’s ear is typically diagnosed by considering the symptoms being experienced and a quick examination of the ear canal. If there is pus draining from the ear, a sample may be sent out for testing to help narrow down the cause of the infection and determine the best treatment options.  

The most common treatment of swimmer's ear is prescription eardrops, often to be used several times a day. Eardrops frequently include some combination of the following ingredients, depending on the type and seriousness of your infection:

• Acidic solution to restore the normal antibacterial environment within the ear
• Steroid to reduce inflammation
• Antibiotic to fight bacteria
• Antifungal medication to fight infection caused by a fungus

An over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) might also be recommended to help with any discomfort the infection may be causing. In the case of severe infections, a prescription-strength pain reliever may be suggested.

With proper treatment from a healthcare provider, swimmer’s ear often clears up in 7 to 10 days. During this period of recovery, it’s important to keep your ears as dry as possible. This means taking baths instead of showers, and, sadly, not going swimming.

To prevent future episodes of swimmer’s ear, try these tips:

1. Use ear plugs when swimming or showering, or

2. Dry your ears thoroughly after swimming or showering by: 

• Tilting your head to each side to help drain water out of your ears.
• Tilt your head so your ear is facing down, then pull your earlobe in different directions to help drain any water  
• Use the edge of a towel to gently dry your ears
• Use a hair dryer on the lowest or coolest setting to gently dry your ears. Hold the dryer at least 12 inches from your head and wave it slowly back and forth. Do not aim the dryer directly in your ear. 

Note: Avoid using cotton swabs to try and absorb water out of the ear canal as they tend to push earwax deeper into the ear and may even scratch the ear canal skin inviting infection. 

If your child is showing signs of swimmer’s ear, contact their doctor or visit SVMC’s ExpressCare. An untreated infection can quickly spread and become extremely painful and dangerous.

Melissa Rowe, APRN, FNP is a member of SVMC's ExpressCare team in Bennington, VT.