What's Going Around

Spring 2008

Swimmers' Ear

Swimmer's ear , also known as otitis externa, is very common in the summer months. It is usually characterized by severe pain after swimming.  We can differentiate this from otitis media (middle ear infection) by tugging on the earlobe.  Typically with swimmer's ear this will be quite uncomfortable.  We usually treat swimmer's ear with antibiotic ear drops.   To prevent swimmer's ear from recurring, we recommend a one-to-one mixture of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar, instilled in the ear after swimming, or earplugs for swimming.

Swimmer's ear is not just caused by swimming.  Anything that irritates the ear canals can make that skin vulnerable to infection.  We are seeing otitis externa triggered by ear buds used with personal music devices.