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What is swimmer's ear?Swimmer’s ear is a common infection of the external ear canal. This is the tube that ends in the opening in your child's ear. The medical name of swimmer's ear is otitis externa. It can happen when the protective lining of your toddler’s ear is damaged, which makes it easier for germs to take hold and thrive.
What causes swimmer’s ear?It's caused by bacterial or fungal infections, or by skin conditions, such as dermatitis. Your toddler could damage the lining of her ear, and make infection more likely, if she:
- Pokes an object into her ear, such as a cotton wool bud. This pushes earwax to the end of her ear canal, where it is easier for bacteria to grow.
- Uses ear plugs or a hearing aid.
- Has a lot of moisture in her ear after swimming, bathing, or being in a humid atmosphere.
- Has a skin condition, such as dermatitis or psoriasis.
- Has been exposed to chemicals, in shampoo or bubble bath, for example (CKS 2007).
How can I tell if my child has swimmer’s ear?An infection of the external ear usually begins with itching. As it progresses, your child will feel pain and tenderness in her ear. If it hurts her more when she chews, or when you gently pull on her earlobe, she probably has swimmer's ear.
Her symptoms may be:
- redness and scaling in her ear
- temporary loss of hearing
- yellow, watery, smelly discharge
How is swimmer’s ear treated?Swimmer's ear often gets better within a week or so, but there are things you can do to ease your child’s discomfort in the meantime:
- Keep the infected ear clean and dry.
- Hold a warm flannel against your child's ear, to ease the pain.
- Give your child infant paracetamol or ibuprofen suspension if she is old enough. Make sure you follow the dosage instructions on the packet.
- Use acetic acid ear drops, which you can buy over the counter from a pharmacy. Leave the drops in for a couple of minutes, with your child lying on her side.
If home treatments don't improve things, your doctor can prescribe antibiotic or corticosteroid ear drops (CKS 2007). These will clear the inflammation within two days to three days. However, you’ll need to continue the treatment for a few days after this, to make sure that the infection has gone completely. Always follow the instructions on the prescription to prevent re-infection of your child’s ear.
When should I call the doctor?Contact your surgery if:
- her symptoms last for more than four days
- she repeatedly gets swimmer's ear
- she has discharge coming out of her ear
- she has problems with hearing
In extremely rare cases, the ear infection can spread to the inner ear and surrounding tissue (CKS 2007). Call your doctor, or take your child to your nearest accident and emergency department (A&E), if she suddenly develops any or all of the following symptoms:
- a swollen, round face
- a sharp pain in her ear
- a fever
Last reviewed: October 2013
ReferencesCKS. 2007. Otitis externa. Clinical Knowledge Summaries Service, Clinical topic. www.cks.library.nhs.uk