Preventing Swimmer’s Ear

For children who have problems with swimmer’s ear,

• Limit the time the child spends in the water – usually less than one hour. Let the ears dry completely for an hour or two before going back in.
• If your child has water in the ear, he should shake his head to loosen the water and dry the ear with the corner of a towel. If this doesn’t work, make a solution of equal parts water and vinegar or vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Put a few drops in each ear when the child gets up, after each swim, and at bedtime. Let the solution stay in the ear for at least five minutes each time.
• Don’t pick at the ears with cotton swabs, a pencil, bobby pin or other objects. This risks injury and infection of the ear canal.
• If the ear itches after a long swim or feels plugged, you might be able to prevent infection by keeping the ear dry and making sure no object is stuck into it. Dry the ear with a small tuft of cotton; The swabs on a stick are too big.
• If itching persists and pain develops a day or two after swimming, call your pediatrician. Your doctor may prescribe topical antibiotics/medication or a mixture of vinegar and either water or rubbing alcohol. Keep the affected ear up for two or three minutes after the drop goes in.
• After treatment begins, the child should stay out of the water for seven days or more, depending on how quickly the pain, itching, and swelling go away. It is all right to shower or bathe daily and to shampoo every other day if the ear is dried immediately afterward and eardrops are put in.