If your child comes out of the pool tugging at their ear, complaining it feels plugged, or wincing when you touch their earlobe, you’re probably dealing with swimmer’s ear. It’s one of the most common summer complaints among kids who spend a lot of time in the water, and while it’s rarely serious, it can be painful and tends to come back if you don’t change a few habits.
Here’s what actually works to keep swimmer’s ear from starting, how to recognize it early, and what treatment looks like so you know what to expect at the pediatrician’s office.
Quick Answer
Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is an infection of the outer ear canal caused by water trapped after swimming or bathing, which lets bacteria or fungi grow in the warm, moist environment. Prevent it by drying ears thoroughly after swimming and using earplugs; treat it with prescription ear drops from a pediatrician, since it doesn’t clear up well on its own.
How to Prevent Swimmer’s Ear
The two habits that matter most are keeping water out of the ear canal and getting ears fully dry afterward. Silicone swim earplugs made for kids work well for children roughly age 3 and up, with a parent handling insertion and removal; for younger kids, over-ear swim headbands or hearing protectors are the safer choice since small earplugs can be a choking hazard if they come loose.
After swimming or bathing, tilt your child’s head to each side and gently pull the earlobe to help trapped water drain out. Dry the outer ear with a towel, and if water still feels stuck, a hairdryer held at a low, cool setting a foot or so away from the ear can help evaporate the rest. Never use cotton swabs, fingers, or anything else inserted into the ear canal — that removes protective earwax and can scratch the delicate skin, actually making infection more likely.
If your child gets swimmer’s ear repeatedly, ask your pediatrician about a preventive drying drop used after swimming, often a mix of diluted white vinegar and rubbing alcohol, or a store-bought acetic acid ear drop. These change the pH of the ear canal to make it harder for bacteria and fungi to grow. Don’t use homemade drops if your child has ear tubes, a perforated eardrum, or drainage — check with a doctor first.
Limiting time in lakes, rivers, or heavily used pools during a flare-up period, and avoiding pools with poor water quality, also lowers risk since freshwater and contaminated water carry more of the bacteria responsible for the infection.
Recognizing Symptoms and Getting Treatment
Early symptoms are subtle: itchiness inside the ear or a sense of fullness or blockage. As it progresses, kids develop redness and swelling at the opening of the ear canal, pain that gets noticeably worse when you tug the earlobe or push on the little flap of cartilage in front of the ear, and sometimes fluid or pus draining out. In more advanced cases, the pain becomes constant, hearing may sound muffled, and swelling can spread to the outer ear or nearby lymph nodes.
Swimmer’s ear needs a pediatrician visit — it generally won’t resolve without treatment. The doctor will look in the ear, often clean out any debris or discharge, and prescribe ear drops (antibiotic, antifungal, or a combination with a steroid to bring down swelling) typically used for about a week. If the canal is very swollen, they may place a small wick soaked in medication to help the drops reach the infected tissue. Most kids feel meaningfully better within a couple of days of starting drops, even though the full course usually runs about a week to ten days.
In the meantime, age-appropriate acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help with pain, and a warm (not hot) compress held against the outer ear sometimes eases discomfort. Keep the ear dry and out of water until treatment is finished.
Tips and Common Mistakes
Don’t confuse swimmer’s ear with a middle-ear infection — swimmer’s ear pain worsens when you touch or move the outer ear, while middle-ear infections (more common in younger kids and often following a cold) usually don’t hurt when you touch the ear itself. Treatments are different, so this matters for knowing when to call the doctor and what to expect.
A common mistake is reaching for cotton swabs to dry or clean the ear — this is one of the most frequent causes of the very irritation that lets infection take hold. Another is stopping ear drops as soon as symptoms improve; finishing the full course your pediatrician prescribes helps prevent the infection from coming back. And if your child wears hearing aids or uses earbuds right after swimming, let ears dry completely first, since trapping any remaining moisture undoes your prevention efforts.
Explore more: more swimming safety guides.
Swimmer’s Ear in Kids FAQs
Can swimmer’s ear go away on its own without treatment?
It’s unlikely to clear up on its own and can worsen or spread if untreated, so it’s best to see a pediatrician for ear drops rather than waiting it out.
How long does swimmer’s ear last in kids?
With prescribed ear drops, most children start feeling better within a couple of days, and the infection typically clears within about a week to ten days.
Is it okay to swim with swimmer’s ear?
No — keep the ear dry and out of water until your child finishes treatment and a doctor confirms the infection has cleared, since more water exposure will make it worse.
Do earplugs actually prevent swimmer’s ear?
Yes, properly fitted swim earplugs are one of the most effective prevention tools because they keep water from reaching the ear canal in the first place.
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Photo by Raj Rana on Unsplash.