#swimmer's ear :
Number of patients presenting with the painful ear infection, swimmer's ear, rises with the summer heat.more people goes
to the pools and the waterways.Unlike an infection of the middle ear,swimmer's ear happens when bacteria grow in the ear canal.
When water gets in here, it gets stuck around wax or just irritates the ear canal.The ear canal swells and that's when you start to get some small cracks in the tissue that serve as a harbor for infection, which is what leads to outer ear infections.Swimmer's ear can start
out with mild symptoms, but quickly escalate to pain,itching, redness & drainage.Usually if the drainage persists for more tha
a day or the child complains for more than a day or you start to see some swelling of the ear canal itself,consult a ENT specialist.
Avoid Over-the-counter ear drops.Preventing swimmer's ear starts with keeping the outer ear dry.A half and half solution of one part vinegar/one part rubbing alcohol can be put into the ear, to help dry it out.You can also use a hairdryer on the low setting, about 12 inches from the ear.The hallmark sign of swimmer's ear in children, regardless of whether or not they have ear tubes, is tenderness when moving the ear.If you are diabetic or immunocompromised, it is important that you see a doctor for ear infections. There is a life-threatening complication that can arise if left untreated