Otitis Externa - Prevention

Prevention

The strategies for preventing acute external otitis are similar to those for treatment.

• Avoid inserting anything into the ear canal: use of cotton buds or swabs is the most common event leading to acute otitis externa.
• Most normal ear canals have a self-cleaning and self-drying mechanism, the latter by simple evaporation.
• After prolonged swimming, a person prone to external otitis can dry the ears using a small battery-powered ear dryer, available at many retailers, especially shops catering to watersports enthusiasts. Alternatively, drops containing dilute acetic acid (vinegar diluted 3:1) or Burow's solution may be used. It is especially important NOT to instrument ears when the skin is saturated with water, as it is very susceptible to injury, which can lead to external otitis.
• Avoid swimming in polluted water.
• Avoid washing hair or swimming if very mild symptoms of acute external otitis begin
• Although the use of earplugs when swimming and shampooing hair may help prevent external otitis, there are important details in the use of plugs. Hard and poorly fitting ear plugs can scratch the ear canal skin and set off an episode. When earplugs are used during an acute episode, either disposable plugs are recommended, or used plugs must be cleaned and dried properly to avoid contaminating the healing ear canal with infected discharge.