Totally off topic - swimmers ear

[alisonbestford]

Hi there

Can anyone offer up any suggestions please?

DD (almost 8) absolutely loves swimming

When we were in Italy she developed painful, itchy ears after swimming in the pool.
Took her to the doc who said her ears were inflammed but not infected, gave her some anti inflammatories to take and suggested that her ears needed syringing when we got home.

Anyway, long story short, the 'itchy ears' bit seems to have persisted whenever she has her swimming lessons.
The GP says her ears were waxy and not infected but that they don't like to syringe childrens ears as it's uncomfortable

She's continued to complain about her discomfort so, yesterday, I took her to have 'Hopi Candle' treatment.

She's starting swimming with school next term and I really don't want her to be put off swimming due to her worrying about her ears.
We've tried different types of ear plugs but they always fall out .

I've been reading about a mixture of alcohol, vinegar and water to rinse out ears after swimming - can anyone tell me more or offer any other ideas?

What sort of vinegar do you use?
Alcohol? Presumably not the bottle of JD sitting in the fridge?

I know I'm way off topic here but any advice would be much appreciated

 

[minkydog]

Swimmers ear is a bit like having athlete's foot in your ear. It can be very painful. You can use a mixture of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water. Vinegar is a natural antiseptic. Alcohol is okay, but it can burn inflamed tissue, so I wouldn't use it on a child. Use the vinegar solution every time she comes out of the pool.

 

[alisonbestford]

Thanks for that

I've also found ear drops to buy, online, which help dry ears after swimming.
Might look into those too

 

[Minniespal]

Alison ~ It sounds really sort ~ Hope your DD gets better soon

 

[alisonbestford]

Thanks

Went to the local scuba diving shop and bought some 'Swim Ear' in the end which is supposed to dry out ears post swimming / shower etc

Just going to try and work on her wearing some sort of ear protection now - her main concern is that she won't be able to hear her instructor

 

[Cyrano]

Hope you find solution for DD. Have you thought about asking pharmacist

 

[Disney owl]

Would she wear a hat
went to a conference last week & attended a talk re grommets & ear problems T

& the consultant recommended swimming hats every time over ear plugs

 

[alisonbestford]

I've got an absolute cupboard full of ear drops recommended by pharmacists....with each bottle disregarded by the next pharmacist I spoke to.......

I think we'll probably end up going down the hat or ear protection route although she's not keen and I'm uncertain as to how easy she'll find it to put a cap on when she's swimming with school

If it comes down to the choice of either not swimming or wearing a hat I'm pretty certain she'll come round

 

[KirstenB]

If you want a cheaper fix than Swim-Ears, a nurse told me to mix white distilled vinegar and rubbing alcohol together, and use several drops in each ear. Our older dd does swim team, and often gets Swimmer's Ear.

 

[alisonbestford]

If you want a cheaper fix than Swim-Ears, a nurse told me to mix white distilled vinegar and rubbing alcohol together, and use several drops in each ear. Our older dd does swim team, and often gets Swimmer's Ear.

Thanks