Enjoy swimming fun, Avoid swimmer’s ear
With more time at the pool and beach during the summer, it’s important for parents to be aware of swimmer’s ear, one of the more common water-related health concerns.
Today's guest blogger is Heather C. Nardone, MD , a Pediatric Otolaryngologist at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children.
With summer quickly approaching, many children will be enjoying more time in pools and at the beach. All that time in the water is excellent exercise, but it's important for parents to be aware of swimmer's ear, one of the more common water-related health concerns.
Otitis externa, otherwise known as swimmer's ear, is an infection of the ear canal that commonly occurs in children who spend a lot of time in the water. Moisture in the ear can irritate and breakdown the ear canal skin, allowing bacteria or fungus to penetrate below the skin surface, eventually leading to infection.
Interestingly, swimming isn't the only way to get swimmer's ear. Anything that results in a break in the skin of the ear canal can lead to infection. This could be from scratching the ear canal, ear cleaning with cotton-tipped applicators, or inserting foreign objects into the ear like a bobby pin or paper clip.
Symptoms of swimmer's ear:
Ear itchiness: Itchiness is caused by the inflammation and is often an early sign of infection.
Ear pain: Children with swimmer's ear often have ear pain, which could be severe. This pain often is heightened when the outer part of the ear is touched or when chewing.
Ear drainage: The drainage could the thin and watery or thick and pus-like.
Difficulty hearing: Swelling of the ear canal can cause a sense of ear fullness or even temporary hearing loss.
Prevention
After time in the water, make sure your child gently dries both ears with a towel. Using over-the-counter ear drops with a drying agent, like isopropyl alcohol, after swimming can help prevent swimmer's ear, especially if a child is prone to the infection. These drops are available at pharmacies and should only be used in children who do not have ear tubes or a hole in the eardrum.
To avoid trauma to the ear, your child should not put objects in the ear canal, including cotton-tipped applicators.
Treatment
If you suspect your child has swimmer's ear, he should be evaluated by his pediatrician or Otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist). The infection typically resolves with use of prescription ear drops. With severe infections, the ear may need to be cleaned to remove debris or a sponge may need to be placed in the ear, to help the ear drops better contact the ear canal. In rare instances, oral antibiotics are needed.
While waiting to be seen by your doctor, your child may use over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. A warm compress may also help to provide some relief. During treatment, make sure to keep the ear dry during bath time and avoid swimming until the infection is resolved.
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