If your child has swimmer’s ear, you may notice him or her holding their ear not long after getting out of the water. A clear fluid may also be leaking from the ear. Infected ears may itch, be red or swollen, or feel “plugged up” and painful when the ear is moved up and down. Swimmer’s ear can be distinguished from an ear infection by tugging on the ear lobe, which is usually painful to those with swimmer’s ear. A deeper ear infection would also likely not cause pain and swelling on the outer sections of the ear.
