Swimmer's Ear

Swimmer's ear is a medical condition that affects the ear, and it is more common in swimmers than in any other group. Keep reading to learn more about it and how doctors treat kids with swimmer's ear.

 

What Is Swimmer's Ear?
Swimmer's ear, sometimes also called otitis externa , is really an infection of the outer ear canal. Swimmer's ear is different from otitis media, which is an infection of the middle ear.

The outer ear is the part that you can see, the part that acts as a holder for your sunglasses and is a place to show off your new earrings. The outer ear also includes the ear canal, the passageway leading to the eardrum. The skin inside is very delicate. The outer ear acts as a funnel, gathering the sound waves that travel through the air and directing them inside your ear. Cup both of your hands around the outside of your ear and listen. You'll hear sounds a little louder than you do when your hands aren't acting like an additional, expanded outer ear.

Once the sound waves are in your ear, they travel through your ear canal until they reach your eardrum. The eardrum is a very thin membrane, like the skin of a drum. Instead of being hit with a drumstick, though, your eardrum is "hit" with sound waves. This causes the eardrum to vibrate.

This vibration is passed on to three tiny bones that concentrate the vibration and transfer it to yet another membrane. Eventually, the vibration reaches a part of the inner ear lined with special cells that look like little hairs and sets them moving. The movements of these little hairs stimulate the auditory nerve, a special nerve that sends the sound wave information up to your brain. The brain finally translates this information into things you understand - like the words your teacher uses when she's assigning homework or the sound of ocean waves.

Not Just From Splashing
Remember the ear canal, the space between the outer ear and the eardrum? This canal is protected by a thin coating of wax that you've probably seen before - earwax! The ear canal needs protection because the outer ear skin is delicate and exposed to the outside world, unlike the middle and inner ear.

Most of the time, water can run in and out of the ear canal without causing a problem. But sometimes the water stays in the ear canal, and it washes away the protective coating of earwax and changes the inside. Instead of being dry, like normal, the ear canal stays wet. When water stays there, bacteria that like to spend time in moist areas can start to grow and cause an infection. Injuring the thin ear canal skin with cotton swabs or other objects allows the bacteria to cause infection. This infection is what causes swimmer's ear.

So why do some kids suffer from swimmer's ear? "Some children have a small ear canal and the water gets trapped there," says Dr. Darrow, an ear, nose, and throat doctor for kids from Virginia. Kids who spend a lot of time diving or swimming underwater may tend to keep more water in their ears. This water washes away the protective coating of wax and makes it more likely for them to develop swimmer's ear.

How Do I Know if I Have Swimmer's Ear?
Swimmer's ear may start with an annoying itch, but it is very important not to scratch inside your ear with anything. That can injure the skin and make the infection get worse. Swimmer's ear makes your ear hurt and it hurts even more when you gently tug on your earlobe. You may have pus coming out of your ear as your body tries to fight the bacteria. You may even find it hard to hear with the infected ear.

What Do Doctors Do?
If a doctor thinks that a kid has swimmer's ear, there are several things he or she can do. The most important thing is to get rid of the infection. The doctor will probably prescribe eardrops that contain an antibiotic to kill the bacteria.

You will have to use the eardrops for 7 to 10 days, and the doctor may tell you to stay out of the water for up to 10 days. Depending on how the doctor decides to treat the infection, he or she may also give you antibiotics in a liquid or a pill for you to swallow. He or she may also put a tiny sponge in the ear called a wick. "We moisten it with medication and it keeps the medication in contact with the infection," says Dr. Darrow.

 

If your ear hurts, the doctor may suggest that your parent give you a children's pain medication like acetaminophen. This can help you feel better while you're waiting for the antibiotic to work.

If you have a big problem with swimmer's ear or you're a kid who's always in the water, the doctor may suggest ways for you to protect yourself. After swimming, your mom or dad can give you special over-the-counter ear drops that help dry or protect the ear canal. Take care of your ears when you're swimming and you'll be able to say good-bye to swimmer's ear!

Reviewed by: Steven Cook, MD