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Otitis Externa Health Article

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Prevention

Swimming in polluted water and in pools or hot tubs without good chlorine and pH control should be avoided.

Keeping the ear dry is an important aspect of prevention of otitis externa. Before swimming, a protective coating consisting of several drops of mineral oil, baby oil, or lanolin can be applied to the ear canal. After swimming, several drops of a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and white vinegar can be put into the ear canal to ensure that it dries adequately. The head should be tilted so that the solution reaches the bottom of the ear canal; then the liquid should be drained out.

Care should be taken when cleaning ears. The outer ear should be cleaned wiped with a clean washcloth. The use of pointed objects to dig into the ear canal, especially those that can scratch the skin, should be avoided.

The most serious complications of malignant otitis externa can be avoided by careful attention to early symptoms of ear pain and drainage from the ear canal. Children with conditions that put them at higher risk for this infection (diabetes or conditions that weaken the immune system) should always report new symptoms immediately to the doctor.

KEY TERMS

Cerumen—The medical term for earwax.

Eardrum—A paper-thin covering stretching across the ear canal that separates the middle and outer ears.

Infectious disease—A disease caused by a virus or a bacterium. Examples of viruses causing an infectious disease are: HIV-1 virus, herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, leukemia virus. Examples of bacterial infectious diseases are: syphilis and tuberculosis.

Outer ear—Outer visible portion of the ear that collects and directs sound waves toward the tympanic membrane by way of a canal which extends inward through the temporal bone.

Parental concerns

Parents should teach their children how to clean their ears without using sharp objects and to dry their ears thoroughly after swimming, showering, or bathing.

BOOKS

"External Otitis." In Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed. Richard E. Behrman. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Co., 1996.

Friedman, Ellen M. My Ear Hurts! Fireside, 2001.

PERIODICALS

"Keep Your Ears Dry." Consumer Reports on Health, 7, no. 7 (July 1995): 80+.

Moss, Richard. "Swimmers Ear." Pediatrics for Parents 17, no. 4 (Apr. 1996): 3+.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. One Prince St., Alexandria VA 22314-3357. (703) 836-4444. Web site:<http://www.entnet>.