Question: What is Swimmer's Ear?
Answer: Swimmer's ear is an infection of the skin lining the ear canal, acording to the Cook Children's Medical Network. When water gets trapped in the area canal the lining becomes swollen and prone to infection. Ear canals are meant to be dry. Children get swimmer's ear more frequently from swimming pools than lakes or oceans, probably because the chlorine in the pool kills off the protective bacteria that live in the ear canal and the infection-causing bacteria can take over.
Symptoms
Symptoms include itchy and painful ear canals, pain when the earlobe is moved up and down, a feeling that the ear is plugged up, and sometimes a low-grade fever. The pain can sometimes be quite severe.
Treatment
Ear drops are prescribed. A heating pad can sometimes be useful for pain, and ibuprofen can also be used. The child should be kept out of the water for a period of time, since the bacteria that cause the infection thrive in a wet environment.
Prevention
The best way to prevent Swimmer's Ear is to keep ear canals dry when your child is not swimming. After swimming, get all water out of the ear canals by turning the head on one side and pulling the earlobe in different directions to help the water run out. Over-the-counter ear drops can also be used. Cook Children's does not recommend ear plugs, as they leak. They will not keep water out of the ear, but will push earwax in deeper, making it easier to trap water in the ear canal, cite the pediatriatric medical experts.
