My Child Snores Every Night – Could It Be Sleep Apnoea? A Parent’s Guide Hearing your child snore occasionally when they have a cold is common. But what if the snoring happens almost every night ? Parents may notice their child breathing loudly through their mouth, tossing around the bed, sweating heavily or sleeping in unusual positions. Some children appear to briefly stop breathing before snorting, gasping or taking a deeper breath. Understandably, seeing this can be worrying. One of the questions parents frequently ask in paediatric ENT clinics is: “How do I know whether my child is simply snoring or actually has sleep apnoea?” Most children who snore do not have obstructive sleep apnoea. NHS Healthier Together estimates that snoring occurs in around 10% of children, whereas obstructive sleep apnoea affects a much smaller proportion. However, regular snoring accompanied by disturbed breathing or poor-quality sleep deserves assessment. This guide explains what parent...
Why Does My Child’s Ear Hurt After Swimming? A Parent’s Guide to Swimmer’s Ear Swimming is one of the pleasures of childhood, particularly during summer holidays. But sometimes a day in the pool is followed by a child complaining: “My ear hurts.” Parents may immediately assume their child has developed another middle-ear infection. However, when ear pain starts after swimming—particularly when the ear feels itchy, blocked or tender to touch—the problem may actually be otitis externa , often called swimmer’s ear . Swimmer’s ear affects the skin lining the ear canal , rather than the space behind the eardrum. Water is an important trigger, but it is not the only one. Scratching, cotton buds, eczema, soap and shampoo can also damage or irritate the delicate skin of the ear canal. Understanding the difference can help parents know what to do, what not to put in the ear, and when their child needs a medical assessment. What exactly is swimmer’s ear? The ear has several differe...