Soaking in one of St. Peters’ outdoor pools in the summer is the perfect way to enjoy the warm weather. If your kid is part mermaid in the summer, it’s essential to remember proper ear care to prevent an infection called swimmer’s ear.
Understanding Swimmer’s Ear
Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal. The condition is called swimmer’s ear because it tends to develop when water gets trapped in the ear canal, paving the way for bacteria or fungi to thrive. Swimmer’s ear is most common in kids aged seven to 14, but anyone can develop it.[1] A few signs of swimmer’s ear include:
- Ear pain and pressure
- Itchiness in the ear
- Clogged ears
- Fluid draining from the ears
- Redness and swelling in and around the ear
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fever
- Muffled hearing
Preventing Swimmer’s Ear
Keeping your child’s ears clean and dry when they’re outside the pool is the best way to prevent swimmer’s ear. After your child exits the pool, have them drain water from their ears by tipping their head to one side and tugging on their earlobe, then repeat on the second side.
If they still feel like their ears are damp, use a clean towel and a hairdryer on a cool setting to remove the excess water. Don’t attempt to dry their ears with cotton swabs; sticking something in their ear is more likely to cause damage than do any good.
In addition to drying their ears, your child can protect against swimmer’s ear by wearing earplugs while they swim and by only swimming in clean water. Earplugs aren’t usually necessary for splashing around the pool, but if your child is on a swim team or is prone to ear infections, they should wear them while swimming.
Treating Swimmer’s Ear
If your child develops swimmer’s ear, call Midwest ENT Centre to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists. We’ll likely prescribe medicated eardrops or drain fluid from the ear. You can also use over-the-counter pediatric-strength pain relievers to manage their symptoms.
[1] Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa): Symptoms & care. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8381-swimmers-ear-otitis-externa