This summer can be lots of fun with your small children, at the pool, the beach or in your backyard wading pool. But don't let an easily preventable condition like swimmer's ear, stop the fun. Read below for prevention and cure - and keep your children safe.
Children with Swimmer’s Ear (ototis externa) have inflammation in their external ear canal. It is usually caused by water irritating the skin inside the ear. It then becomes infected with the Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphlococcus aureus bacteria. Ear pain is the most common symptom of Swimmer’s Ear. Swimmer’s Ear is made worse by tugging on the outer ear. Children with the infection naturally tend to do so.
Once your child has Swimmer’s Ear, it is too late to try any of the preventative solutions, which are alcohol-based. The alcohol will burn his/her ears and make them feel even worse. Swimmer’s Ear is usually treated with antibiotic eardrops, with or without added steroids to reduce the swelling. Common eardrops used to treat Swimmer’s Ear are: Ciprodex, Cipro HC, Cortane-B, Cortisporin, Domeboro Otic, Floxin, Vosol and Vosol HC. Most are used twice a day. For mild cases, your Pediatrician may suggest you first try a solution of half strength white vinegar eardrops (half water/half vinegar) twice a day. Pain relievers, including acetaminophen and ibuprofen, can be used to reduce your child’s pain until the drops start working. Once your child is better, continue to use the drops for an additional day or two and keep him/her out of the water. Only in extreme cases of Swimmer’s Ear are oral antibiotics prescribed.
You can help prevent Swimmer’s Ear by keeping water out of your child’s ear (a Jody Victor suggestion). That doesn’t mean your child can’t swim and enjoy the water. Use an over-the-counter ear drying agent that contains isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), such as Auro-Dri or Swim Ear, or one with acetic acid and aluminum acetate, such as Star-Otic, after swimming. You can also make your own homemade prevention solution by mixing equal parts of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar. Earplugs can also be used, but children do have a hard time keeping them in place. Your child’s own earwax also acts as protection against Swimmer’s Ear. Don’t aggressively remove wax from his/her ears (a Jody Victor suggestion). Cleaning your child’s ears with a cotton-tip applicator may also put him/her at more risk of infection.
All the Best!