At a glance
- Itching, a blocked feeling, drainage and pain when the outer ear moves are common clues.
- A clinician should examine a painful or draining ear before choosing treatment.
- Do not put cotton swabs, homemade mixtures or leftover drops into the ear.
What does swimmer's ear feel like?
The ear canal may itch before it becomes painful. Your child may dislike having the outer ear touched or moved, and chewing can hurt. Swelling or discharge can make hearing seem muffled. These symptoms suggest a canal problem but do not confirm the diagnosis.
A middle-ear infection affects the space behind the eardrum and often follows a cold. The treatments differ. An ear examination also checks for a damaged eardrum, tubes or another cause of pain.
How is it treated?
The clinician may prescribe antibiotic ear drops, sometimes with medicine to reduce inflammation. Oral antibiotics are not usually needed for an uncomplicated canal infection. If swelling prevents drops from entering, the clinician may place a small wick to help deliver the medicine.
Use only the prescribed product and follow its instructions. Ask the clinician or pharmacist to demonstrate how to give it. Arrange a recheck if pain is worsening or there is no clear improvement after about 48 to 72 hours of treatment.
When does ear pain need prompt care?
Seek prompt assessment for severe pain, fever with an unwell child, or redness and swelling spreading beyond the canal. Swelling behind the ear or an ear pushed outward needs urgent assessment. Contact the pediatrician for drainage, a blocked canal, or ear symptoms in a child with ear tubes.
Can my child swim, and can we prevent another infection?
Keep the affected ear dry and pause swimming during treatment unless the treating clinician advises otherwise. Ask when swimming can resume. After recovery, let water drain out by tilting the head and dry the outside gently with a towel. Do not push the towel into the canal or remove protective earwax.
Ask before using ear-drying drops. CDC advises against them with ear tubes, a hole in the eardrum, an active swimmer's ear infection or ear drainage. A homemade alcohol or vinegar mixture is not a substitute for an examination of a painful ear.
Common questions
Is swimmer's ear contagious?
It is not usually passed from one child to another. Shared water exposure can still cause more than one swimmer to develop it.
Can I use drops left over from a previous ear infection?
Check with the clinician first. The cause of pain and the condition of the eardrum determine which drops are appropriate.
Sources
Written for Pedemy in our own words from the sources above; checked 2026-11-03. For education only, not medical advice. Pedemy is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the organizations cited.