Children's Health: Swimmer's Ear Could 2017 be a BBQ summer? Whatever the
case, children will spend more time in pools, water parks and at the beach. This always coincides with me seeing lots of cases of so called ‘swimmer’s ear’.
The medical name is otitis externa. It involves both infl ammation and infection. The infl ammation causes swelling, itching inside and pain in the ear canal. Infection will lead to an offensive discharge. Both of these processes will lead to a temporary loss of hearing on the affected side.
Two things that can make you more likely to develop otitis externa are damaging the skin inside your ear and regularly getting water in your ear. Cotton buds can scratch and irritate the ear canal and this is the origin of the saying “do not put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow”. Eczema leads to scaled skin and so eczema sufferers are more likely to get swimmer’s ear. Water trapped in the narrow ear canal provides an ideal environment for bacteria.
To help prevent swimmer’s ear, use olive oil to soften and fl oat out impacted wax, not buds or other sharp objects. If swimming frequently, use ear plugs or a swimming cap. Dry ears carefully after swimming or showering.
Summer of Fun! By Kate Duggan
From family-friendly festivals to wet weather fun, we’ve plenty of ideas to keep the kids entertained this summer.
Back to nature: Fly a kite, go geocaching, build a den, explore a new trail – you don’t have to travel far or spend a lot of money to have fun outdoors. If you need some inspiration, try The National Trust’s 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ list, which is available as a free app, a printed leafl et, or a PDF. The app is particularly appealing for tech-savvy kids, as it lets them record their activities and earn printable certifi cates. Activities range from bug hunting and playing pooh sticks to canoeing, rock climbing and orienteering.
www.nationaltrust.org. uk/50-things-to-do
Festivals: Festival season isn’t just for the grown- ups – there are plenty of family-friendly festivals to choose from, including local Camp Bestival, Suffolk’s Latitude Festival, Cheshire’s Just So festival and Chagstock in Devon.
Learning through play: The summer holidays are not the time to worry about spelling tests and practice papers. However, that doesn’t mean that your child can’t have fun learning a new skill,
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whether it’s sewing, baking, climbing trees, or learning how to tell the time.
Wet days at home: The British weather being what it is, there are likely to be
some rainy days this summer.
It can help to have some plans up your sleeve, so here are a few ideas:
• Build a den inside. A couple of chairs or a table, a few old sheets or blankets, and a washing line with pegs are all you need. Use the den for family board games, picnics and teddy bear tea parties.
• Have a treasure hunt, with a series of clues, or a scavenger hunt to fi nd mini prizes.
• Make some puppets out of old socks, cardboard boxes or wooden spoons; write a play and put on a performance for other members of the family.
• If you just can’t tear them away from their screens, have a pyjama party. Add pizza, popcorn and playmates and you should be able to hide out in another room for at least an hour’s peace and quiet.
Explore, leap, climb and party to the max at the area’s largest soft play and party centre.
If your ear canal becomes very itchy and painful, and or you have an offensive discharge, you will need some antibiotic drops to clear the infection. Most drops will also have some steroid to reduce the infl ammation.
Remember, cotton buds are not ear buds.
Dr Mark Bridgman Hadleigh Lodge Surgery
www.thehadleighpractice.nhs.uk
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