Hi! I am Dr. Bob Arnot. After sun burn and poison ivy one of the most common warm weather ailments maybe swimmer’s ear, the name comes for the fact that the condition characterized by throbbing in one ear is most prevalent amongst swimmers and kids who spends a lot of time in the water. Now, what happens is that the external ear canal gets block so water there becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and for a fungi.
If you have a family member who has this condition, here are some simple tips.
Swimmer’s ear is not only caused by swimming but sometimes kids also get them by sticking foreign objects in their ears. He water is definitely the most common culprit. So if someone you know is complaining of an ear ache and they have just spent a lot of time in the water. It is a good bet that you are dealing with swimmer’s ear, this also goes for toddlers who enjoys sticking their heads under water during bath time. Another common sign is yellow or green smelly pus like discharge. There is not usually any fever associated with swimmer’s ear but there is some minor hearing loss and the pain tends to be more external than the middle ear infection. For example, it may hurt to yawn or even to touch the outside of the ear.
Swimmer’s ear is not exactly an emergency but the only way to get rid of it is with prescription ear drops, so you will need to come in for an evaluation and treatment and no swimming for several days after treatment. After recovery which takes about a week, you can help prevent the recurrence by using ear plugs in the pool. You can also buy special swimmer’s ear drops over-the-counter but remember this are not a cure, they just help to dry out the ears and limit the conditions that contribute to a relapse.
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