Simple steps to keep from acquiring swimmer's ear or similar condition

Swimmer's ear is an affliction which affects the outer portion of the ear, and is known to the medical community as otitis externa. While otitis media (or "inner ear infections") often include symptoms such as nasal and chest congestion, these symptoms are not present in cases of swimmer's ear. A case of swimmer's ear can develop if water becomes trapped in your ear canal while you are bathing or swimming. The infection is caused by irritation brought on by the presence of water inside the ear, leading to the growth of fungus or certain kinds of bacteria.

A swimmer's ear infection is just like any other infection of the skin that you might see from a scrape or other open-skin injury. No one else can catch this kind of infection. To protect yourself from otitis externa, you can concoct your own generic elixir with vinegar and alcohol, or you can purchase the same thing at your local pharmacy. Following swimming, you should put five to ten drops in each ear, before allowing the drops to drain out, allow them to sit in the ear for several minutes.

Vinegar will destroy fungus or bacteria that can colonize within your ear, and alcohol is used to evaporate any remaining water. These options will not treat infections that are already present, but they can certainly help to prevent one from being triggered to begin with. Not allowing your child to swim in polluted water, ensuring that your child refrains from inserting objects, such as cotton swabs, in their ears, and making sure that all water is removed from your child's ears after they have been swimming or bathing, are other preventative measures that you can take to avoid trouble with swimmer's ear.

Hurting in your face ahead of the ear, hurting after pressing the small piece that protects the ear canal or after pulling your ear backwards and up, itching in the ear canal or on the outside of the ear, and a loss of hearing are all swimmer's ear symptoms. Another red flag in one of your children would be unilateral ear problems after water exposure.

A greenish-yellow discharge coming from the opening of the ear is another symptom that may accompany swimmer's ear. It's very important to see a doctor immediately if you notice the signs of swimmer's ear in your child, particularly if discharge is present. If you do not treat swimmer's ear, the infection could get into the cartilage or bone that is around the ear canal. Using a warm cloth or holding a heating pad against the ear, as well as taking acetaminophen, will aid in reducing your little one's pain.

In some cases, specialized ear drops containing antibiotic-steroids may be prescribed by your doctor in order to lessen swelling. The steroids reduce the inflammation and provide itch relief while the antibiotic destroys the fungus or bacteria that have infected the ear. 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. If you are given a prescription for ear drops, then you should avoid swimming or submersion in water for the duration, usually 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.

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