Family First: Swimmer's Ear
http://www.katv.com/news/stories/0608/529548.html [2008-6-26]
Tag : ear fungus
Twelve hours after 5-year-old Steven Sattler went swimming, his earbegan to hurt.
“This ear,” he says, pointing to his right ear.
The pain grew worse and worse.
“When we took him into the doctor, he sat in the chair. Wewere waiting for the doctor to come in, [and] he screamed …at the top of his lungs … screaming, crying. Even with earinfections he’s had in the past, it was never likethat,” Steven’s mother Sydney says.
Doctors diagnosed the boy with swimmer’s ear, a bacterialinfection of the outer ear. The infection causes the ear to becomered, swollen and painful, and it may also drain fluid.
“The outer ear is usually tender. [P]ulling on the ear orpushing right in this area usually elicits a good bit oftenderness,” says Dr. James Thomsen, a pediatricotolaryngologist with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Swimmer’s ear occurs when water breaks down the natural pH ofthe ear, making it less acidic and easier for bacteria to grow.Experts say that the best way to combat the infection is to useantibiotic eardrops.
“We’ve been on drops about four times a day. He’sbeen on oral antibiotics, and he’s been taking Tylenol atnight in order to sleep,” Mrs. Sattler says.
Experts say that swimmer’s ear can routinely be prevented byusing drops of a drying solution, like rubbing alcohol or whitevinegar, in the ear after a day in the pool. Over-the-countermedications may also help release the water. But if a child has eartubes or an infection is visible, experts warn parents not to use adrying solution.
“The best thing to do is to see your physician. If the ear istender, red or swollen, they’ll usually start with anantibiotic eardrop,” Dr. Thomsen says.
Tips for Parents: According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, three outof four children will have at least one ear infection by theirthird birthday. During the summertime, children are particularlysusceptible to developing swimmer’s ear (otitis externa), abacterial infection that occurs when the outer ear canal becomesmoist or traumatized.
Experts at the University of Minnesota’s Department ofOtolaryngology say that when water gets into a child’s ear,it brings with it bacteria or fungus particles. Usually, the waterruns back out, the ear dries out and the bacteria and fungidisappear. But sometimes the water remains trapped in the earcanal, and the skin becomes soggy. Then, the bacteria and fungigrow, flourish and infect the child’s ear.
How can you determine if your child suffers from swimmer’sear? The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery(AAO-HNS) says that your child may complain about the followingsymptoms six hours to five days after being in the water:
- Ear feels blocked and may itch
- Ear canal becomes swollen, sometimes swelling shut
- Ear starts draining a runny milky liquid
- Ear becomes very painful and very tender to touch, especially onthe cartilage in front of the ear canal
If your child is diagnosed with swimmer’s ear, the Universityof Illinois’ McKinley Health Center says that his or herpediatrician may prescribe antibiotics, which will help fight theinfection. It is most important that your child takes all of themedication provided, even if he or she is feeling better in two orthree days. Depending upon your child’s diagnosis, he or shemay be prescribed an oral antibiotic or antibiotic eardrops.
If your child’s ear canal contains excess earwax or otherdebris, the pediatrician may gently remove it to allow the eardropsto get into the ear. If the ear canal is swollen, the pediatricianmay insert a cotton wick and leave it in place for a few days toallow the antibiotic drops to enter the ear.
In addition to prescribed medication, Lucile PackardChildren’s Hospital advises taking the following steps tohelp your child cope with a mild case of swimmer’s ear:
- Pain medicine: Talk to your pediatrician about giving your childacetaminophen for pain relief.
- Local heat: If your child’s pain is moderate to severe,apply a heating pad (set on low) or hot water bottle to his or herouter ear for 20 minutes (Caution: Avoid burns). This will alsoincrease drainage.
- White vinegar rinses: If your child has swimmer’s ear withno complications (ear tubes, hole in eardrum, etc.), you might tryrinsing his or her ear. Rinse the ear canal twice a day withhalf-strength white vinegar simply made by diluting it with equalparts of warm water. Fill the ear canal. After five minutes, removeit by turning your child’s head to the side and moving his orher ear. The vinegar rinse will help restore the normal acid pH ofyour child’s ear canal and reduce swelling.
With treatment, your child’s symptoms should be better inthree days. If you observe any of the following problems in yourchild, the McKinley Health Center advises you to notify yourpediatrician immediately:
- Blood or pus draining from the ear
- Continued fever
- Dizziness
- Pain or swelling behind or around the ear
- Persistent ear pain, especially if not relieved in 48 hours
- Stiff neck
To protect your child from developing swimmer’s ear, theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention offers the followingadvice:
- Dry your child’s ears after swimming. If it is difficult toget water out of your child’s ear, apply a few drops of analcohol-based ear product into the ear.
- Ask your pool manager about the chlorine and pH-testing programat your pool. Pools and hot tubs with good chlorine and pH controlare unlikely to spread swimmer’s ear.
- Pay attention to signage, and don’t allow your child toswim in locations that have been closed because of pollution.
- Avoid putting objects (e.g. fingers and cotton swabs) in yourchild’s ear that may scratch his or her ear canal or providea site for infection.
- After showers, hair washing and swimming, help the water run outof your child’s ear by tilting his or her head toward theground.
The AAO-HNS warns that if your child already has an ear infection,or if he or she has ever had a perforated or otherwise injuredeardrum or ear surgery, consult an ear, nose and throat specialistbefore allowing him or her to swim and before using any type ofeardrops.
References
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital
University of Illinois’ McKinley Health Center
University of Minnesota’s Department of Otolaryngology
Click here for more information.
Twelve hours after 5-year-old Steven Sattler went swimming, his earbegan to hurt.
“This ear,” he says, pointing to his right ear.
The pain grew worse and worse.
“When we took him into the doctor, he sat in the chair. Wewere waiting for the doctor to come in, [and] he screamed …at the top of his lungs … screaming, crying. Even with earinfections he’s had in the past, it was never likethat,” Steven’s mother Sydney says.
Doctors diagnosed the boy with swimmer’s ear, a bacterialinfection of the outer ear. The infection causes the ear to becomered, swollen and painful, and it may also drain fluid.
“The outer ear is usually tender. [P]ulling on the ear orpushing right in this area usually elicits a good bit oftenderness,” says Dr. James Thomsen, a pediatricotolaryngologist with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Swimmer’s ear occurs when water breaks down the natural pH ofthe ear, making it less acidic and easier for bacteria to grow.Experts say that the best way to combat the infection is to useantibiotic eardrops.
“We’ve been on drops about four times a day. He’sbeen on oral antibiotics, and he’s been taking Tylenol atnight in order to sleep,” Mrs. Sattler says.
Experts say that swimmer’s ear can routinely be prevented byusing drops of a drying solution, like rubbing alcohol or whitevinegar, in the ear after a day in the pool. Over-the-countermedications may also help release the water. But if a child has eartubes or an infection is visible, experts warn parents not to use adrying solution.
“The best thing to do is to see your physician. If the ear istender, red or swollen, they’ll usually start with anantibiotic eardrop,” Dr. Thomsen says.
Tips for Parents: According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, three outof four children will have at least one ear infection by theirthird birthday. During the summertime, children are particularlysusceptible to developing swimmer’s ear (otitis externa), abacterial infection that occurs when the outer ear canal becomesmoist or traumatized.
Experts at the University of Minnesota’s Department ofOtolaryngology say that when water gets into a child’s ear,it brings with it bacteria or fungus particles. Usually, the waterruns back out, the ear dries out and the bacteria and fungidisappear. But sometimes the water remains trapped in the earcanal, and the skin becomes soggy. Then, the bacteria and fungigrow, flourish and infect the child’s ear.
How can you determine if your child suffers from swimmer’sear? The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery(AAO-HNS) says that your child may complain about the followingsymptoms six hours to five days after being in the water:
- Ear feels blocked and may itch
- Ear canal becomes swollen, sometimes swelling shut
- Ear starts draining a runny milky liquid
- Ear becomes very painful and very tender to touch, especially onthe cartilage in front of the ear canal
If your child is diagnosed with swimmer’s ear, the Universityof Illinois’ McKinley Health Center says that his or herpediatrician may prescribe antibiotics, which will help fight theinfection. It is most important that your child takes all of themedication provided, even if he or she is feeling better in two orthree days. Depending upon your child’s diagnosis, he or shemay be prescribed an oral antibiotic or antibiotic eardrops.
If your child’s ear canal contains excess earwax or otherdebris, the pediatrician may gently remove it to allow the eardropsto get into the ear. If the ear canal is swollen, the pediatricianmay insert a cotton wick and leave it in place for a few days toallow the antibiotic drops to enter the ear.
In addition to prescribed medication, Lucile PackardChildren’s Hospital advises taking the following steps tohelp your child cope with a mild case of swimmer’s ear:
- Pain medicine: Talk to your pediatrician about giving your childacetaminophen for pain relief.
- Local heat: If your child’s pain is moderate to severe,apply a heating pad (set on low) or hot water bottle to his or herouter ear for 20 minutes (Caution: Avoid burns). This will alsoincrease drainage.
- White vinegar rinses: If your child has swimmer’s ear withno complications (ear tubes, hole in eardrum, etc.), you might tryrinsing his or her ear. Rinse the ear canal twice a day withhalf-strength white vinegar simply made by diluting it with equalparts of warm water. Fill the ear canal. After five minutes, removeit by turning your child’s head to the side and moving his orher ear. The vinegar rinse will help restore the normal acid pH ofyour child’s ear canal and reduce swelling.
With treatment, your child’s symptoms should be better inthree days. If you observe any of the following problems in yourchild, the McKinley Health Center advises you to notify yourpediatrician immediately:
- Blood or pus draining from the ear
- Continued fever
- Dizziness
- Pain or swelling behind or around the ear
- Persistent ear pain, especially if not relieved in 48 hours
- Stiff neck
To protect your child from developing swimmer’s ear, theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention offers the followingadvice:
- Dry your child’s ears after swimming. If it is difficult toget water out of your child’s ear, apply a few drops of analcohol-based ear product into the ear.
- Ask your pool manager about the chlorine and pH-testing programat your pool. Pools and hot tubs with good chlorine and pH controlare unlikely to spread swimmer’s ear.
- Pay attention to signage, and don’t allow your child toswim in locations that have been closed because of pollution.
- Avoid putting objects (e.g. fingers and cotton swabs) in yourchild’s ear that may scratch his or her ear canal or providea site for infection.
- After showers, hair washing and swimming, help the water run outof your child’s ear by tilting his or her head toward theground.
The AAO-HNS warns that if your child already has an ear infection,or if he or she has ever had a perforated or otherwise injuredeardrum or ear surgery, consult an ear, nose and throat specialistbefore allowing him or her to swim and before using any type ofeardrops.
References
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital
University of Illinois’ McKinley Health Center
University of Minnesota’s Department of Otolaryngology
Click here for more information.
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