EAR, NOSE & THROAT UPDATE

Dive In To Protect Against Swimmer’s Ear
By Jeffrey Raval, MD

FACT: Swimmer’s Ear isn’t always caused by swimming.

FACT: Q-Tips are not your ear’s friend.

FACT: Swimmer’s Ear can be devastating to immuno-compromised patients.

It’s the season to dive in. When you come up for air, recognize that Swimmer’s Ear got its name from a sport that isn’t always the cause of it. Symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear include pain, hearing loss, itchiness, fullness in the ear, and occasionally drainage.

Most frequently, people develop Swimmer’s Ear from using Q-tips to clean the wax from their ears or from scratching inside their ear, often in response to allergies.

Ear wax protects the ear canal and fosters a low pH environment. Using Q-tips to wipe out all the wax or even simply responding to an itch with a scratch in the ear can cause an abrasion that develops into Swimmer’s Ear. The ear canal swells shut and traps the bacteria inside.

Another problem with using Q-tips is that it can cause the wax to pack into the ear. Q-tips should only be used to clean around the outer ear to avoid developing a problem.

Swimmer’s Ear can be caused by getting water in your ears that stays and doesn’t drain. The dirtier the water, the increased chance that infection can develop, no matter whether it’s fresh water, salt water, or pool water that is your paddling place.

If you’re a swimmer, it’s important to get the water out of your ears by either pulling on your ear, tugging on it, or shaking your head. Some people who are prone to Swimmer’s Ear use Drying Drops in their ears successfully. These over-the-counter drops should speed up the drying process of water that remains in the ear. It’s important to make sure that the drying drops do not linger in the ear canal because that can promote infection too.

When immuno-compromised patients (i.e. diabetics) develop Otitis Externa (Swimmer’s Ear), the infection can invade the body through the ear canal and spread out of control. This is especially a concern for elderly diabetics and the treatment for this type patient is usually a little more aggressive—including oral antibiotics or even surgery—than treatment for other patients.

Kids too can develop Swimmer’s Ear, often because they don’t realize the importance of clearing the water from their ears after swimming or even bathing.

If you think you have symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear, see your physician to bring the inflammation down with topical antibiotics. Your Ear, Nose & Throat doctor will want to see you in the office at least once a week during treatment to thoroughly clean your ear...not with a Q-tip.

Jeffrey Raval, MD is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School and did his residency and internship at the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University Barnes Jewish Hospital. He completed his fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology, is triple board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. He is Section Head of Otolaryngology at Swedish Hospital in Englewood and is the Medical Director of Matrix Spa in Denver. His is a practicing partner at Associates of Otolaryngology with offices at Harvard Park Medical Center and in Lone Tree and volunteers at Denver Inner City Health. He can be reached at 303.744.1961.