Hi. It appears that the problem is not from the ear canal or the drum but from the inside of the ear, behind the drum called as the middle ear. It is common that after swimming there is a feeling of the ear being clogged with fluid or blocked which can be explained by the blockage of the eustachian tube (ET) due to the entry of water into the tube or due to deep water swimming leading to negative pressure and collapse of the tube. This is called eustachian tube dysfunction. The eustachian tube (ET) connects the back of the nose to the middle ear region (This explains why your daughter hears a popping sound every time she tries to open up her ears). The ET is important for equalizing the pressure between the ear and the atmospheric environment. During swimming, due to water entering the ET, the ET gets blocked leading to a negative pressure within the ear which pulls the ear drum inwards leading to pain and feeling of blockage. Middle ear produces mucus and secretions which drain into the nose through the ET. When the ET is blocked, this fluid accumulates inside the middle ear and creates the feeling of fluid in the ear. ET dysfunction is treatable if the ET is blocked by a mucous plug or swelling. The mainstay of treatment is opening the ET. Toynbee maneuver can be tried 3-4 times a day for about a week to help unclog the ET. The maneuver involves pinching the nose and swallowing. Swallowing pulls open the eustachian tubes while the movement of the tongue, with the nose closed, compresses air which passes through the tubes to the middle ear. (When she pinches the nose and swallows the first time, she should feel like her ears are closed. After this she must swallow once again without pinching the nose. This time her ears will feel like they have popped open) In addition to this, your daughter may require nasal decongestants, mucolytics and nasal sprays to take care of the edema or mucus blockage. She will need to see an ENT specialist for a prescription. Antibiotics do not seem to work in this condition since it is not an infection. Hoping for her speedy recovery. Please let me know if you have any further questions.