Dear Reader,

Excessive and relatively constant moisture in the ear canal can cause infection in the external part of the canal. Infections of this sort are commonly known as "swimmer's ear." The obvious way to prevent swimmer's ear is to keep your ears dry. GENTLY dabbing them with a towel or cotton-tipped swab is one preventative step against infection. NOTE: pushing or jabbing anything into your ears can cause damage, not to mention blockage due to the redistribution of wax.

And, yes, earplugs are another way to protect your ears when you swim. If you decide to wear earplugs, take a few simple precautions to prevent getting an infection from the earplugs themselves. Change them every two weeks or so. Also, clean your earplugs after wearing them with a little rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball.

Symptoms of swimmer's ear include:

• pain
• a sense of fullness or blockage of the ear
• discharge
• itching

   

When you get an ear infection, it's best to keep your ears away from water until the infection has cleared up. If these symptoms last longer than a week or two (depending on their severity), or if you get swimmer's ear often, see your health care provider. Make an appointment with her/him right away if your infection is accompanied by a fever, pus-like or bloody discharge, or any noticeable hearing loss or ringing in your ears.

Alice

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