Swimmer's Ear?

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Angel

♥"Concrete Angel"♥
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This is the reason why I haven't slept at all last nite and now it's 6:00 am , I'm still up! :( ....Next time I go swimming, Ill be sure I have ear plugs on !!! :squint:

Has anyone here ever have swimmer's ear infection like me?



Causes Of Swimmer's Ear?

Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear structures.It typically occurs in swimmers, but the since the cause of the infection is water trapped in the ear canal, bathing or showering may also cause this common infection.When water is trapped in the ear canal, bacteria that normally inhabit the skin and ear canal multiply, causing infection and irritation of the ear canal. If the infection progresses it may involve the outer ear.



Symptoms Of Swimmer's Ear


The most common symptoms of swimmer’s ear are mild to moderate pain that is aggravated by tugging on the auricle and an itchy ear.Other symptoms may include any of the following:

Sensation that the ear is blocked or full
Drainage
Fever
Decreased hearing
Intense pain that may radiate to the neck, face, or side of the head
The outer ear may appear to be pushed forward or away from the skull
Swollen lymph nodes


Treatment Of Swimmer's Ear

Treatment for the early stages of swimmer’s ear includes careful cleaning of the ear canal and eardrops that inhibit bacterial growth. Mild acid solutions such as boric or acetic acid are effective for early infections.

For more severe infections, if you do not have a perforated ear drum, ear cleaning may be helped by antibiotics. If the ear canal is swollen shut, a sponge or wick may be placed in the ear canal so that the antibiotic drops will be effective. Pain medication may also be prescribed.

Follow-up appointments with your physician are very important to monitor progress of the infection, to repeat ear cleaning, and to replace the ear wick as needed. Your otolaryngologist has specialized equipment and expertise to effectively clean the ear canal and treat swimmer’s ear.



Prevention Of Swimmer's Ear

A dry ear is unlikely to become infected, so it is important to keep the ears free of moisture after swimming or bathing. Removable earplugs, sometimes worn for hearing protection, can be used to keep moisture out of the ear canal. Q-tips should not be used for this purpose, because they may pack material deeper into the ear canal, remove protective earwax, and irritate the thin skin of the ear canal creating the perfect environment for infection.

The safest way to dry your ears is with a hair dryer. If you do not have a perforated eardrum, rubbing alcohol or a 50:50 mixture of alcohol and vinegar
used as eardrops will evaporate excess water and keep your ears dry.

Before using any drops in the ear, it is important to verify that you do not have a perforated eardrum. Check with your otolaryngologist if you have ever had a perforated, punctured, or injured eardrum, or if you have had ear surgery.

People with itchy ears, flaky or scaly ears, or extensive earwax are more likely to develop swimmer’s ear. If so, it may be helpful to have your ears cleaned periodically by an otolaryngologist.

http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/ears/swimmers.cfm
 
ohhh yeah... got that million of times because I am practically a fish over the summer. sorry you got those, they are no fun!
 
Poor ^Angel^, it's no fun watching her being in pain--or when she gets into the pool, she can't go underwater...I'm hoping her ear infection will go away really soon....so we can have a whole lot more fun in the pool!! :hug:

Btw, that's good information in this thread my sweet dear ^Angel^!! :thumb: Also, I never really had any ear infection associated with swimming.
 
That's one reason why I don't swim under water, Cuz I know I'll get an ear infection and it's not fun either :(


Ear plugs sound like a good idea, If I look stupid in them, Oh well it's either that or ear infection? I choose the ear plugs. :thumb:
 
i never get ear infection under water!!!


hope that u getting better soon! ^Angel^
 
been there done that I still have to wear one ear plug on my right ear due to hole inside my ear which is part that suppose to protect water from going in too deep... I know how angel feels I hate the Pain!! and you can taste it out of your mouth *puke* it make you feel sick right away...I suppose to have that hole fixed back in 6th grade but i was too chicken to go in surgrey again as doctor told me i can get it fix anytime i want to lol...The reason i have hole in my ear is because i had my ear tubes fixed which cause by ear infections
 
I grew up in swimming under the lake or pool... i have no problems with my both ears and never got a infections when i grew up ! but this is new to me and i was looking at google and read a story about ear inflection by under the water or lake ... suprise me !!!! but thanks for giving me some informs about that !
Hey angel, I hope your ear inflecation will go away soon as possible and next time, you must put a plug both of your ears then swimming with big smiles !
 
My son just had ear infecations recently... TWO EARS arghhh!! its pain in butts for me cuz of painful during middle of night so gave him tylenol for him. first he got his left ear infecation then 5 days later his right ear infecation.(he can't swimming for two weeks!) he went swimming YMCA three time a weekby daycare that where he go attened daycare. that was first time for him have painful ear infecations usual.... he always get ear infecation by wax. but this time infecations by swimming. i put ear dropped three time a day for 5 -7 days. Yesterday his left ear all done by up to 7 days, now his right ear should be done this friday. hopefully forward going swimming again this weekend.. and also brought ear plugs for him. it s should be helpful for him not get any infecations again next future!!
 
i have basically grew up swimming all my life until 3 or 4 years ago... one of my ear starts to hurt when i go underwater to deep water, i found that odd, cuz it never happened to me before.. but i ignored it for a bit then it still comes back when i swim underwater to deep water so, i wore one earplug when i have to swim deep water. but if its 4 ft tall it doesn't hurt but more like 8 ft tall it will. I dunno why it caused it later on not in the beginning. *shrugs* interesting information though. hope u feel better with ear infection soon pampers.
 
Put your two fingers on your ears plug it... will not infection eh?

Ear plugs would be great of course but annoys feel inside.. *UGH*

btw, deep sorry about your ear infection.. hopefully will come fade away sooner recovery!
 
Bullym0m said:
Put your two fingers on your ears plug it... will not infection eh?
Click to expand...

:laugh2: that would work!...


Thanks everyone! :thumb:
 
Dang! Sorry about that, Angel!

There's another trick that might help - stick your tongue at the bridge of your ... what do you call it... the hard ceiling in your mouth and try holding air in the mouth... for some reason, it "closes" the ears to water. I don't know if it works for others, though, so beware! It has for me, though. I grew up swimming all the time in the islands.
 
hmm interesting Liza, Thanks for letting me know, I'll try it sometimes!

And Thanks girls! ;)
 
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