Preventing - Treating Ear Infections

[Scubajohn]

Over the years, i watched divers use various approaches to preventing/treating ear problems on dive trips. Fresh water, olive oil, diluted vinegar are just 3 that come to mind. i've never done anything except be lucky.

I'm off for two weeks liveaboard in January & thought it might be a good idea to learn a bit about this. Especially as with repeated diving, my luck may run out

Any thoughts, suggestions, names of branded drops that work etc would be most welcome

Thanks

John

[IainC]

Any of those (or swim ear) as preventative.
But wim ear they may make things worse if you already have an infection as it is quite harsh.

Go to your GP, tell him/her you are going to a far off land with poor healthcare you will be on a boat for a week with no doctor and going diving (hence prone to ear infection) & will he/she please give you a prescription for some anti-biotic ear drops as a precaution.

DON'T use them unless you need to.

If you do need them FINISH THE COURSE, don't stop part way through.

Throw them out when they go out of date, don't leave them in your dive bag for next year..

This is what one of my lot does anyway.

Iain.

[ChristianG]

Over the years, i watched divers use various approaches to preventing/treating ear problems on dive trips. Fresh water, olive oil, diluted vinegar are just 3 that come to mind. i've never done anything except be lucky.

I'm off for two weeks liveaboard in January & thought it might be a good idea to learn a bit about this. Especially as with repeated diving, my luck may run out
Whatever you do, do not under any circumstances use someone else's product that you are then obliged to stick in your ear. Other people, even your dearest friend, can have, unknowingly or not, nasties in their ears that they can then pass on to you.

Never use a product generally available on the boat, whatever it may be, if there is even a remote chance of infection from it.

Edit/: One of the things I learned many years ago is that fluid retention in the ear, as in seawater, is not really a good idea. A good way to get rid of it is to, when back on the surface, "bash" your ear against the flat of the sea - the immediate vacuum will make at least most of the remaining water flow out yet the pressure imbalance is not enough to create a problem otherwise. :\Edit

[Glenn Ford]

http://www.bsacforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=3680&page=2

[Scubajohn]

Thanks for this link - very helpful

john

[ll00031]

hi everyone

i go diving every week with my university club. i had an ear infection about 3 week ago. i spoke to my GP and she suggested using sofradex sterile ear drops. i now use them every time my ears get blocked after diving and they work really well.

[Cosmosblue]

hi everyone

i go diving every week with my university club. i had an ear infection about 3 week ago. i spoke to my GP and she suggested using sofradex sterile ear drops. i now use them every time my ears get blocked after diving and they work really well.

is that product prescription only ? :confused:

[ll00031]

is that product prescription only ? :confused:

i'm not sure. if you have regular problems with your ears. speak to your GP and ask them about the ear drops. they might give you some

[d1arm1d]

Hi,

I had post-cold ear problems in Malta in January - went to the dive school's recommended doc and was given antibiotics (anti-bacterial) and nasal spray, and told I could dive in five days if I was better. Cost about 60E inclusive.

Was better five days later (yay :) ) and spent four days diving in Malta & Gozo. Great. Except the day after I stopped diving, so I could spend my last few days eating & drinking too much, the other ear started getting sore. Hotel doc gives me anti-fungal ear drops. 60E.

This worked slowly, but when the drops were finished - home by this time - both ears started to get sore again. Went to local pharmacist, who recommended acetic acid & alcohol ear drops called "Ear Calm". Halfway through the bottle and problem solved. 10E and half the bottle left.

I will be taking some to Malta next time, apparently it is suitable for preventative use if you are prone, which antibiotics & the like are not, hope this is helpful and not too rambling,

Diarmid