Jessie Eldora

My problems with Otitis externa - Swimmer's Ear


Posted: Monday, September 19, 2011

by Jessie Eldora
gotmydigital.com

Inflammation of the ear is a common problem and could have a number of causes.

Years ago I suffered a condition called, swimmers ear. The skin around the opening of my ear canal was red and swollen. For years I did not have any ear wax. My eardrum was fine. Unfortunately, I had it for many years, and I doctored it the best way I knew how. But, I kept washing my long hair, most of the time, by laying in the bathtub. I would never let my granddaughter do that; but she prefers showers anyway. i know some kids stay in the water too long when swimming. A Blow dryer can be used to dry the ears, if the child does not wear ear plugs.

The physician told me I would never get rid of it. I found his comment strange. I was determined to get rid of it. First he prescribed an antibiotic with an anti-fungal agent with steroids. It cleared-up. Later, a physician syringed my ears when I did get my wax back ... I had too much wax; the whole condition came back again. i went through more ointments again, for quite a few months. I read now that a doctor should never syringe ears with people with my problem. A specialist suggested that I cut my hair to a short bob. He was thinking maybe I had dandruff in the ear. That was not it.

I learned to dry my ears thoroughly after shampooing and swimming, and without cotton tips. I was never told that the ears are self cleaning. Maybe I should have know that. I would not have used so many Q-tips.

It was thought that I had eczema, but not psoriasis. I really don`t know if I have or had eczema. I do use a little, and very little indeed, Vaseline. I put-on my ear with my little finger. Once in awhile, not very often, my ears get itchy and I use a very small amount of cortisone, that I can get at the drug store.

Here is information I have about Swimmmer`s ear.

Swimmer's Ear - otitis external – is an irritation, infection, or inflammation of the outer ear. It typically affects people who swim frequently or otherwise get water in their ears. It is also associated with people who regularly use cotton-tipped swabs in their ears.

The ear's normal acidic environment can be disrupted by chronic wetness or the scraping of a cotton-tipped swab, creating conditions which allow bacteria to invade the ear canal causing infection and inflammation.

What are some symptoms of Swimmer's Ear?

In addition to pain and/or itching, there may also be drainage of fluid from the ear, and decreased hearing since the ear is full of infected material. In severe conditions, there may be some redness of the outside part of the ear or the surrounding face.

How is Swimmer's Ear treated?

Most cases of swimmer's ear can be treated with antibiotic ear drops Antibiotic Eye & Ear Drops, or antibiotic cream. Cortisone cream can be bought at the drug store also, at the counter for a small strength tube.

Instill one to two drops, four times a day for 5 to 7 days. You should avoid getting water in the ear until the treatment is complete.

If irritation occurs or if there is no improvement within two days of starting treatment, product should be discontinued and a physician should be consulted.

Administering ear drops:

Tips to avoid a reoccurrence of Swimmer's Ear:

Jessie Eldora Robertson is a Freelance writer & photographer also a seller of digital cameras & accessories, Art prints, and Scroll & Fretwork pictures on her estore/site; a young-spirited grandma keeping-up and keeping fit. http//:www.gotmydigital.com

To add to her interest in food, when Jessie was running a Family Daycare, she took food and health courses to have her cerificates, to know how to feed and have the best care for the children.

Jessie resides in the beautiful Cariboo Chilcotin area of British Columbia, Canada with her husband.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by HyunSoung Kim
 240 days 23 hours ago.
91 fans. Follow HyunSoung Kim on twitter!
At first, i thought its a pure professional article, but when i read it i realized there is lot of personal stuff, i think if you try to think of other titles (Not so formal or strict) you would attract more readers. Of course you can keep these titles if the article itself is pure information. So, in the end, we have to dry up our ears thoroughly after washing or hair? ^^

Glad to have you in the group!
» left by Jessie Eldora 240 days 15 hours ago.
22 fans.
Yes, your are right, I had second thoughts about the title, and then I forgot to go back and change it. It changed now. It is best to dry ears well after getting hair & ears really wet. Mine was an extreame case, I think it is the continued wettness that causes problems.
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