Ear - Swimmer's

When To Call

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• Your child looks or acts very sick
• Severe pain
• Redness and swelling of outer ear
• Fever over 104° F (40° C) and not improved 2 hours after fever medicine
• You think your child needs to be seen urgently

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If

• You think your child needs to be seen, but not urgently
• Constant ear pain
• Yellow discharge from ear canal
• Fever
• Blocked ear canal
• Swollen lymph node near ear
• Cause is uncertain (no swimming)
• Ear symptoms last over 7 days on treatment

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

Care Advice

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).
• Start by having your child lie down with the affected ear upward.
• Fill the ear canal.
• Wait 5 minutes, then remove the vinegar rinse 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.
• Continue until the ear canal returns to normal.
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 usually 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 improved in 3 days and resolved in 7 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. The wax buildup then traps water behind it).
• 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 over 7 days on treatment
• Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms. 

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Disclaimer: This information is not intended to 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. For more information, click here. 

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