Swimmers Ear

[boat sju]

My doc knows I am a diver, and whenever I need to replenish my supply he complies with just a phone call. I get Acetic Acid Otic Solution USP. 2% I use it after every dive; it works great, especially when doing multiples on a live a board. It does not cost $120.

You might find this interesting: Acetic acid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[SparticleBrane]

An infection needs antibiotics to clear it up.

What if it's a virus?

 

[Fathomer]

Antibiotics won't work on viral infections, but there are antivirals available.

I didn't see anyone mention cleaning one's ears. If you have a cerum (wax) buildup in your ear canal, it may block the various solutions suggested from getting to the water resulting in a nasty case of swimmers ear.

I swear by "ear beer", but it has to have full access to the ear canal for it to work. You might have a wax buildup if several days after diving your ears still feel full of water. This can be irrigated by yourself or an ENT can vacuum or remove excess wax with a curet. Do not use q-tips or any other tool to clean out your ears. All it will do is pack the wax in deeper.

 

[Barracuda2]

You might find this interesting: Acetic acid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks Retro. Now I know why only 2% is used in this solution.

 

[ScubaBasics]

I think Diving PrincessE gave you the best advice, that swimmers ear drops are not a cure but a preventive step. The Doc's Pro Plugs work very good, the only problem with them is you do need to go and get sized properly for them. Any Doc's Pro Plugs dealer should have a sizing kit and should be able to help you with this. Then write down the size so you don't have to deal with sizing again. One last thing buy the one with the leash this will keep you from losing them. Good Luck!!

 

[Karloss]

using a mixture of vinegar and alcohol works for me.

 

[DPP Santa Cruz]

Hi;

Doc's Proplugs does help prevent otitis, exostosis, and ruptured ear drums. In addition they help with equalization... But don't take my word on it haha, I have only been using them for three years.

It is just one of the many inexpensive ways to prevent ear complications. The main reason I visited this forum today was to share a video and study that we just received from our people in Italy. It is short underwater footage of the earplugs during a diver doing the valsalva maneouvre. I am sure you will enjoy it.

If you want to talk more about it, call us at the office.

video: www.proplugs.com/media/plugsinaction.mpg

study: www.proplugs.com/media/SIMSICongress2006.doc

 

[Sue J]

I coincidentally spent the morning at Children's Hospital Boston with a ENT specialist who was seeing my daughter for problems with recurrent, nasty bouts of swimmer's ear. His recommendation echoes one you've already gotten here- a 50-50 solution of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar. The alcohol helps to dry the ear and the vinegar changes the ph, making the ear canal less hospitable to bacteria. Use it religiously every time you get out of the water. Also try to avoid getting water in your ears in the shower or bath. If you don't have the ear solution available you can use a blow dryer on low to dry your ear (honest to God, this was really what he said). His comment on earplugs? "We use them for kids with tubes for other reasons, but for most people they're a long run for a short slide."

 

[highlandfarmwv]

After suffering with a severe swimmer's ear infection for 3 months, the doc found mine was a fungus (or yeast) infection. He had me use Lotromin drops (which is usually for athletes foot) and it finallhy cleared it up. He also said that even the humidity of being around the ocean could cause swimmers' ear. Fungus ear infection has a "sweet" distinctive odor (you can smell if you clean your ear, then smell the q-tip, tissue, etc).

Antibiotics would not have helped it.

 

[Age]

Try this; do nothing!
Never ever, put anything in your ear anytime anywhere, especially when swimming. I used to use doctor-prescribed ear drops before diving, used ear plugs for swimming and used cotton buds to clean and dry after a shower, and I always had ear infections. Now I use silicon over the ear plugs for planes and tilt my head to the side after swimming with tissue over the ear to mop up the moisture. I'm not a doctor, but it worked for me. Of course, if you have to clear up any infection you might have at present the doctor will give you antibiotics.