Whether your kids are home for summer, on a much-needed family vacation, or away at day or overnight camp, keep these tips in mind to ensure that your young ones stay safe and healthy this summer.
Avoid Swimmer’s Ear
Swimmer’s ear is common in kids who spend a lot of time in the water. Too much moisture in the ear can irritate and break down the skin in the canal, letting bacteria or fungi penetrate. It happens most often in the summertime when swimming is common.
Nemours ENT specialist Brett Chafin, MD, offers these helpful swimmer’s ear tips:
- Ear pain is the main sign of swimmer’s ear. It can be severe and gets worse when the outer part of the ear is pulled or pressed on. It also may be painful to chew. Sometimes the ear canal itches before the pain begins.
- Using an ear dryer after swimming can remove moisture from the ear canal and make it much less irritating. This can also help prevent swimmer’s ear, especially in kids who get it a lot.
- To avoid injuring an ear, young kids should not clean their ears themselves. Also, never put objects into kids’ ears, including cotton-tipped swabs.
Say No to Seasonal Allergies
If your child develops a “cold” at the same time every year, seasonal allergies might be to blame. Allergy symptoms, which usually come on suddenly and last as long as a person is exposed to the allergen, can include sneezing, itchy throat, nasal congestion, and runny nose.
These tips from Nemours allergy specialist Ejaz Yousef, MD, can help beat summertime allergies:
- The most important part of treatment is knowing what allergens are at work. Some kids can get relief by reducing or eliminating exposure to allergens that bother them.
- If certain seasons cause symptoms, keep the windows closed, use air conditioning if possible, and stay indoors when pollen, mold, or weed counts are high. It’s also a good idea for kids with seasonal allergies to wash their hands or shower and change clothing after playing outside.
- If reducing exposure isn’t possible or is ineffective, medicines can help ease allergy symptoms. These may include antihistamines and nasal spray steroids. If symptoms can’t be managed with medicines, the pediatrician may recommend taking your child to an allergist or immunologist for evaluation for allergy shots (immunotherapy), which can help desensitize kids to specific allergens.
At Nemours Children’s Health, we personalize our ENT and allergy care based on each child’s unique needs. We have three convenient locations near San Marco (downtown), Nocatee, and Old St. Augustine Road, and in Clay County to serve Northeast Florida families. To schedule an appointment with a Nemours pediatric expert, call (904) 697-3600.
