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Article: What is swimmer's ear?
- Article from:
- Pediatrics for Parents
- Article date:
- July 1, 1989
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1989 Pediatrics for Parents, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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What is Swimmer's Ear?
While your child swims, water flows in and out of her ears. Sometimes it gets trapped in the ear canal. After swimming (or showering), the trapped water usually runs out of your child's ears, and the ear canals dry naturally. However, if water remains in the ear canal, the skin lining the ear canal becomes soggy. This trapped water can erode the thin protective skin barrier, providing an ideal breeding ground for the bacteria and fungus that can cause an infection. The following symptoms may indicate "swimmer's ear" or "jungle ear" as it is sometimes called: * itchy sensation * swollen ear canal * ear pain * ear tenderness when touched.