Swimmer’s Ear
by jmmillerSwimmer’s ear is a common childhood ailment. Especially in warmer climates, children may spend a fair bit of time in the water, increasing the likelihood that they could develop this infection of the ear canal.
Water in the ear canal works to weaken and break down the delicate skin tissue in the ear. This can allow fungi and bacteria a warm, moist environment in which to flourish. The resulting infection is called otitis externa, or more commonly, swimmer’s ear.
But little swimmers aren’t the only ones afflicted by this condition. A number of different factors could be responsible for the damage to the ear canal that allowed the bacteria to breed, such as:
- inserting foreign objects such as safety or bobby pins into the ear
- eczema
- insertion of a cotton swab into the ear canal
- allowing the head to rest underwater while bathing
Otitis usually appears in the form of a red, painful outer ear and earlobe. It may hurt to tug on the earlobe, or even to chew. Your child may complain that they feel like there is water trapped in their ear. You may also notice the lymph nodes around the ear swelling. Your child may have a clear to yellowish, pusy discharge from the ear canal.
It is important to take your child to the doctor immediately if you suspect that they may have swimmer’s ear. Untreated, the infection will spread and worsen. In some cases, the doctor must drain pus or debris from the ear in order for the ear drops to reach the infection and treat it properly.
If your child seems prone to otitis externa, have them shower instead of bathing, to prevent soaking their head and ears in water. Teach them to wash their ears properly, and to pat them dry after each shower. After swimming, they should tilt their head to each side to release any water trapped in the ear canal.
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