External Otitis (Swimmer's Ear)

External otitis is an infection of the skin of the ear canal. Water loving bacteria are the most common infecting germs. Symptoms include ear pain and pain when pushing or pulling on the ear (which stretches the inflamed ear canal. Frequent swimming, especially in contaminated water, is a risk factor for acquiring external ear infections.

TREATMENT:

Antibacterials: Antibiotic or antiseptic ear drops are used. Domeboro otic solution, a buffered ascetic acid solution, is very effective in killing the bacteria that cause this infection. Pain will be relieved faster if the treatment is started using an ear wick.

Ear Wick: Place the unaffected ear down and fill the affected ear canal with Domeboro solution. Take a piece of a cotton ball and twist one end into the shape of a wick and insert the wick end into the ear canal. Soak the outside end of the cotton with a few drops of Domeboro. Every few hours place a couple of drops of Domeboro on the wick to keep it moist. Before going to bed, remove and replace with a fresh wick (as above). There should be significant pain relief by the following morning. The wick can be removed at that time.

After the ear wick is removed, place 3 drops in the affected ear 3 times daily to complete 10 days treatment.

Keep the ear dry: Counting the first day of treatment as "day 1", swimming should be avoided completely for the 1^st 5 days. On days 6 through 10 of treatment, if you go swimming, at the end of the swimming session you should place an extra dose of the Domeboro in the affected ear. During showers, you can cover the ear with plastic to prevent water from entering the ear canal.

Arnold Solof, M.D.

Vineland Pediatrics, P.A.

6/29/96