Archive for the ‘Otitis Externa’ Category
Swimmer’s Ear
Most parents are all too familiar with middle ear infections, but vacations at the beach can reveal that kids are susceptible to outer ear infections, too. Swimmer’s ear is most common in kids who swim in pools and adults who surf in the ocean.
Also known as otitis media, swimmer’s ear is an infection with bacteria (Pseudomonas, staph, or strep) or, more rarely, fungi in the skin of the ear canal. Swimmer’s ear can be caused by MRSA, but the good news about this possibility is that in this situation, there is an antibiotic (fluoroquinolone) that usually works.
You’ve probably seen your skin shrivel when you spend a lot of time in the water. Something similar can happen to swimmmers in the ear canala. Too much moisture in the ear canal, and the skin breaks down, leaving the ear canal vulnerable to infection. “Swimmer’s” ear can also result from cleaning out ears with Q-tips, eczema, or inserting foreign objects.
The first sign of otitis externa is usually an itchy ear. It can also hurt to chew. There may be a clear, then pus-filled discharged, and temporary hearing loss and fever are also common. Because swimmer’s ear can spread further inside the ear, it’s best to see a doctor once symptoms develop. You should call a doctor immediately if there is apin in the ear, dedreased hearing, or a bloody discharge from the ear. Swimmer’s ear becomes life-threatening when it spreads to bone, which happens in about 1 in 200 cases.
The disease is typically treated with ear drops and antibiotics. If you have no access to a doctor at all, gently rinsing the ear with a solution of 1 teaspoon (up to 5 ml) of vinegar in a quart (about a liter) of water may help until you can get medical assistance. Even this very mild solution, however, may sting if the skin is broken.
Mild cases of swimmer’s ear usually resolve in 7 to 10 days. It’s a lot simpler, however, just to keep water out of the ear (with bathing caps or ear plugs) and avoid ever getting infected. Rinsing the ear with the vinegar solution may also prevent infection or flare-ups of earlier disease.
Read about Travel and Trichinosis and What to do About Pinworms. Robert Rister is the author or co-author of nine books on natural health including Healing without Medication.
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Otitis Externa in Dogs
Does your dog shake his head excessively? Are his ears red? Is there discharge from the ears? If you answered yes to any of these then he could have Otitis Externa which is simply another name for a doggy ear infection.
The dogs ear has 3 parts, the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. Otitis Externa is an infection in the outer ear canal where 90% of ear infections in dogs occur. Dogs are prone to ear infections because of the anatomy of their ears. They have a horizontal and a vertical component to them, so it is hard for anything in there to drain out, like water or debris.
There are several causes of ear infections. The most common cause of ear infections are due to allergies. Some dogs are more prone to allergies than others; therefore they get more ear infections.
Another common cause is sporting dogs that swim. They get water inside their ears, and provided their difficult anatomy, the water in the ears cannot drain out. Therefore, this provides the perfect environment for bacteria and yeast to grow. It is recommenced that if you let your dog play in the water you dry your dog’s ears thoroughly afterwards.
If your dog does have an ear infection it is important to properly clean your dog’s ears before applying any medication.
To clean your dog’s ears, start by placing a few drops of an ear cleanser into the ear and massage the ear to help loosen any debris that is in the ear. Then use a cloth or cotton gauze to whip the dirt out.
After your dog’s ears are thoroughly clean, then you can apply your medication. Follow your veterinarian’s advice about how much medication to apply to the ear, usually a few drops.
The treatment your veterinarian will prescribe will vary depending on the cause of the ear infection. For yeast infections they prescribe anti-fungals, for bacterial infections they will prescribe antibiotics. Normally treatment is applied directly into the ears, but in severe cases systemic treatment may be needed. This usually means have to give your dog pills orally.
In some dogs with severe ear problems, the veterinarian will usually clip the hair around the ear to help let more air into the ear. In extreme cases your veterinarian may recommend surgery to reconstruct the ear canal to let it drain easier.
Some dog breeds are more prone to ear infections than others, although all dogs can be get them. Dogs with large ears and ears that flop over as well as dogs with a small ear canal can be more susceptible than others. Ear infections in dogs need to be treated by your vet, so the next time you see any symptoms in your
Lee Dobbins writes for E Pet Center
where you can learn more about pets and caring for dogs.
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