July 31
Swimmers Ear
	Swimmer’s ear is very common in the summer months because we tend to spend more time in the water. If the ear doesn’t get a chance to dry, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and the ear canal can become infected. Symptoms of swimmer’s ear include itching or painful ear canals, a “plugged” ear, and discharge. The key to preventing swimmer’s ear is keeping the ear canals dry. The best strategy is to limit the amount of time in the water. After swimming, turn the head from side to side to get the water out of the ears and dry the opening to the ear canal carefully. You can also put in drops of rubbing alcohol, or a mixture of half alcohol and half white vinegar to dry the canal and kill the germs. The treatment for swimmer’s ear includes prescription ear drops that contain an antibiotic, acetominophen or ibuprofen for the pain -- and staying out of the water.
	Does using earplugs help? No. Earplugs don’t keep all the water out of the canal and they can jam the earwax back into the ear canal. Earwax actually traps the water, making the problem worse.
	RESOURCES: External Otitis The Nemours Foundation www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/ear/swimmer_ear_p2.html Swimmer’s Ear and Other Water Effects House Ear Institute http://www.hei.org/htm/swimrev.htm