INTERVIEW WITH AN ENT

Q: My kid has tubes and they are bothered by water in their ears (especially when they are floating). What should I do about that? Is it possible that it is hurting them?

A: Water entering the ears can sometimes cause discomfort for kids with ear tubes, especially if it gets into the middle ear through the tube. This might happen more when floating because their ears are submerged longer. It’s not necessarily “hurting” them in terms of damage, but it could irritate the ear canal or middle ear, potentially leading to inflammation.  To help, you can use custom-molded earplugs or over-the-counter swim caps/ear bands to keep water out during swimming or floating, but certainly not required.  After water exposure, gently dry the outer ear with a towel and tilt their head to let any water drain. 

Q: If my child is prone to getting middle ear infections, does being in the water make it any worse? Are they any more prone to getting swimmers’ ear?

A: Being in the water does not increase the risk of middle ear infections (otitis media)  However, “swimmer’s ear” (otitis externa) is different—it’s an infection of the outer ear canal, not directly related to the tubes or middle ear infections. Swimmer’s ear can happen in all types of water but is more likely in contaminated water  (e.g., from lakes, ocean, or rivers). The classic sign of swimmer’s ear is moderate to severe pain with movement or manipulation of the external ear.

Q: What can I do to prevent my kids getting swimmers’ ear? Should I do anything different based on if we are in the bathtub, pool, lake, or ocean?

To prevent swimmer’s ear: Use swim ear plugs or a swim cap to block water from entering the ear canal.

After swimming, dry the outer ears thoroughly with a towel and use a hairdryer on a low, cool setting if needed.

Consider over-the-counter drying drops (like a mix of alcohol and vinegar) to evaporate trapped water. DO NOT use these types of drops if your child has ear tubes.

Differences by water type:
– Bathtub: Usually less risky since it’s clean water
– Pool: Chlorine can irritate, so ear protection is optional.
– Lake/Ocean: Higher bacteria risk, so earplugs are strongly recommended for children with ear tubes, but are optional for children without ear tubes. 

Q: If my child has had an ear infection, when are they cleared to swim?

It depends on the type of infection:

Middle ear infection (otitis media): If they have tubes, wait until the infection is fully resolved (no drainage, pain, or fever) and get clearance from their ENT. This might take a week or two after treatment, but it varies.

Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa): They should avoid swimming until the ear canal is healed—typically 7-10 days with proper treatment (e.g., antibiotic drops). No active drainage or significant pain is a good sign they’re ready.

Always confirm with their doctor, especially if tubes are involved, to ensure the eardrum and canal are safe for water exposure.

Q: If my child isn’t usually bothered by water in their ears and then all of a sudden is bothered, what should I do? Should I bring them into the doctor?

A sudden change like this could signal something new—maybe there’s early infection  swimmer’s ear), or the ear canal is inflamed. Start by keeping their ears dry and observe for other symptoms (pain, drainage, hearing changes, fever). If it’s just mild irritation and resolves quickly, you do not need to rush to the doctor. But if it persists beyond a day or two, or if they develop discharge, pain, or fever, bring them in to get checked. With tubes, it’s better to err on the cautious side since water sensitivity could mean an issue brewing.