A Step By Step Guide To Avoiding Swimmer's Ear

Otitis externa, or "swimmer's ear" is characterized by an infection on the skin of one's ear canal and outer ear. Swimmer's ear should not be confused with otitis media, or inner ear infection, which can be identified by its cold-like symptoms, including runny nose or congestion.

Swimmer's ear is typically caused by water that becomes lodged in the ear canal after swimming or bathing. In the midst of a swimming session, water reaches the outer ear area and leaves a resulting infection.

This type of irritation is relatively benign, much like a scratch, and cannot infect someone who comes into contact with the area. There are many over-the-counter solutions available to help prevent swimmer's ear or you can mix your own solution at home by combining equal amounts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol.

When using ear drops for prevention, they should be placed into the ear right after swimming or bathing (allow a few minutes to pass for the best effect), and then drain with a tissue.

Vinegar will destroy fungus or bacteria that can colonize within your ear, and alcohol is used to evaporate any remaining water. While this approach will not serve to cure swimmer's ear after the fact, it may well protect your family ahead of time.

Another methods of avoiding swimmer's ear is to make sure your ears are completely dried if water has entered. Also, do not swim in water that is dirty, and do not insert anything into your ears.

Warning signs of otitis externa are persistent itching, hearing loss, tenderness in the area upon any type of contact, and extreme facial discomfort in the general vicinity of the afflicted ear- any combination of these problems, or any one in and of itself, should be addressed and treated immediately. The pain does not have to occur in both ears simultaneously for swimmer's ear to be present.

Watch for any substance coming out of the ear which resembles pus. If swimmer's ear seems to be a possibility due to the symptoms listed here or a significant discharge, talk with a physician.

If you do not treat swimmer's ear, the infection could get into the cartilage or bone that is around the ear canal. The pain of swimmer's ear may be alleviated by placing a warm cloth or a heating pad on the ear or by taking acetaminophen.

In some cases, specialized ear drops containing antibiotic-steroids may be prescribed by your doctor in order to lessen swelling. Such steroids ease the suffering and help the irritated skin to get well, while the antibiotic eliminates fungus or bacteria.

Your physician might put a wick in the child's ear if there is significant swelling of the ear canal; a wick is a bit of sponge or cotton which helps the drops to penetrate down to the ear canal. The child is not to go swimming or even allow water inside his ear during the treatment, which generally includes taking the drops for around five to ten days.

Once this period of treatment has concluded, speak with your doctor. If drainage issues continue after these treatments, or are accompanied by a stiff neck, dizziness, fever and continued pain for longer than two days, immediate talk with your doctor again.