Dr. Tonia Cox, CHI-Memorial Pediatric Care AssociatesQ: My kids love to swim, but inevitably every summer they end up with swimmer’s ear. What can I do to prevent this and keep my kids swimming?
A: Swimmer’s ear, or acute otitis externa, is caused by increased moisture trapped in the ear canal, causing the normal bacteria and yeast in there to multiply, leading to infection and pain. Treatment for early stages includes drying the ear canal and using drops that inhibit bacterial growth, a mixture of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol works well. In more severe cases you may need topical and/or oral antibiotics to treat the infection. You can help your children prevent a case of swimmer’s ear by putting in a few drops of the vinegar-and-alcohol mixture after swimming, then letting the ears air dry, or by fully dry their ears after swimming with a hair dryer on a low setting.
– Dr. Tonia Cox, CHI-Memorial Pediatric Care Associates, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society
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