Swimmer’s ear and kids: What parents should know – CHOC

What’s swimmer’s ear, how is it treated, and when can my child get back into the pool?

Swimming is one of summer’s greatest joys, but swimmer’s ear – an earache frequently associated with swimming – is no fun at all.

What exactly is swimmer’s ear, how is it treated, and – an important question for kids – when can swimming resume? Here, Dr. Harry Pellman, a CHOC pediatrician, provides an overview of this ailment.

What is swimmer’s ear?

An infection of the outer ear canal, swimmer’s ear is officially called otitis externa. It’s different from typical ear infections sometimes experienced by children with colds. These are called otitis media and that’s an infection of the middle ear, the space behind the eardrum.

How does swimmer’s ear happen?

Swimmer’s ear happens when bacteria grow in the ear canal. The ear canal has a delicate surface that is protected by a thin coating of earwax. Most of the time, water can run in and out of the ear canal without causing a problem. 

But bacteria get a chance to grow when water stays in the ear canal. that warm, moist environment permits bacteria to multiply and infect the ear canal causing swelling and pain. Sometimes kids can get an infection in the ear canal even if they haven’t been swimming when water gets trapped in the ear canal or the ear canal is injured by objects placed inside. 

How do I know if I have swimmer’s ear?

The most common sign of a swimmer’s ear is ear pain, especially worsened when the ear is touched, bumped, or the ear lobe is pulled. Resulting swelling from the infection can even muffle sounds temporarily making hearing less.

How is swimmer’s ear treated?

The usual treatment is the placing of special ear drops into the ear canal to kill the overgrown bacteria and reduce swelling. The doctor may even use a tiny sponge called a wick, sometimes needed to get the medicine into a swollen canal.

Children should use the drops as prescribed – even if the ear starts to feel better. To treat pain, families can try over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

When can kids with swimmer’s ear go swimming again?

While it can vary with each child, typically it’s recommended to wait until the ear feels perfect, often between five to 10 days. This will allow enough time for the infection and the swelling to heal.

How can I prevent swimmer’s ear?

For kids who commonly experience swimmer’s ear, parents can purchase special over-the-counter drops or other strategies recommended by your doctor. 

For more health and wellness resources from the pediatric experts at CHOC, sign up for the Kids Health newsletter.