Don't Let Summer Water Fun Turn Into Summer Pain: How To Tell If Your Child Has Developed An Ear Infection
Now that the weather is starting to warm up, your kids will be spending more time in the water. If they're going to be swimming a lot, they're going to be more prone to summer ear infections. That's because water can get trapped inside your kid's ears, leading to an increased risk of ear infections. Ear infections are no laughing matter. Unfortunately, younger children aren't always able to tell you when their ears are hurting. That's why you need to pay attention to the way that they're acting. In most cases, young children will be show signs that their ears are hurting them. If you have a young child, the signs described below can help identify an ear infection.
They're Not Sleeping Well
If your child usually sleeps well, but they've been waking up crying throughout the night, there's a good chance that their ears are hurting. This is particularly true if they've recently been swimming, especially in a community swimming pool. If your child is having difficulty sleeping and appears to be in pain when you check on them, it's a good idea to have them checked out at an urgent care center.
They're Tugging on One Ear
Young children aren't always able to tell you when their ears are hurting. However, they can show you through their physical actions. One action that young children often exhibit when their ear hurts is tugging. Tugging is often a way for young children to try and alleviate the pain they're experiencing. If your child has been tugging at their ears more than often, especially one specific ear, it's time to head to the urgent care. This is particularly true if the ear tugging isn't associated with tiredness or fatigue.
They've got Discharge from Their Ear
Once ear infections become severe, the affected ear may begin releasing a green or yellow discharge. This discharge is the bacteria being pushed out of the ear canal. If you suspect that your child has an ear infection, start looking inside their ears. If you notice a thick discharge coming from the ear canal, you need to head to the urgent care center as soon as possible. It's important to note that there may be times when the discharge is clear. If you see a clear liquid in your child's ears, and they haven't been around water in the past few minutes, you should have your child seen by a doctor.
They've got Trouble Hearing You
It's not uncommon for children to ignore you when they're busy playing. However, if your child doesn't seem to hear you, they could be suffering from an ear infection. During an ear infection, the ear canal can become swollen, which can lead to temporary hearing loss. If your child is having trouble hearing you, it's time to visit an urgent care center near you.
When children play in the water, summer fun can turn into summer ear infections. If your child is exhibiting any of the signs described above, it's important that you seek medical attention for them right away. For more information, contact a medical office like Emergency Care Dynamics.
