With the temperatures in the 90s for too many days lately, everybody I know has been trying to cool off, generally in some sort of water. This might explain why so many of my friends’ kids have had swimmer’s ear this summer. So far, it has yet to visit my house, though I am ready for it.
Swimmer’s ear, or otitis externa, is an infection of the outer ear, quite different than the middle ear infections that have tortured many of us. The culprit is usually water stuck in the ear, which can then develop a bacterial infection. When water is left in the ear, the ear’s protective waxy coating may be washed away, allowing the bacteria to grow. A scratch in the ear from a finger, toy or a cotton swab can also jar the protective coating, resulting in a very unfair scenario: the pain of swimmer’s ear without any swimming.
The Mayo Clinic website lists these factors that might increase the likelihood of getting swimmer’s ear:
- Swimming
- Swimming in water with higher bacteria levels, such as a lake rather than a well-maintained pool
- Small ear canal, such as a child’s ear canal, that can trap water more easily
- Excessive earwax that traps water in the ear canal
- Excessive cleaning of the ear canal
- Scraping or scratching of the ear canal with objects, such as cotton swabs
- Devices that may trap water, such as a hearing aid or swim cap
- Skin allergies from jewelry or other allergic agents
- Skin irritation from hair spray or hair dyes
Swimmer’s ear is pretty easy to detect – the external ear canal (the part you see looking at the ear) becomes sore, itchy, swollen and red, and the ear may feel “full.” The pain intensifies if the ear is pulled or moved, even if only by chewing. There may be some drainage or difficulty hearing, as well.
Usually doctors will prescribe antibiotic ear drops to clear up the infection, and ibuprofin or acetaminophen may be needed until the pain lets up. Most doctors will recommend staying out of water until the infection is gone, sometimes up to ten days! Unfortunately, recurrence is common.
The best way to avoid swimmer’s ear is to keep water out of the ear. Since I don’t want to keep my kids out of the water, I plan to remember to dry their ears with a towel after swimming and bathing. Over-the-counter ear-drying remedies are available, and some people make their own mixture of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar. I bet your pediatrician has a recommendation; I plan to ask mine if she thinks we should try preventative drops, or stick to the “cross my fingers” method.
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