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I am realativly new to diving but have a history of outer ear infections. Have been diving in fresh water, St Lawrence River. Read on this post about 25% white vinagar and 75% water that nuturalizes the bacteria. Also heard about a vinagar and rubbing alcohol combination that works even better. Any suggestions about mixing ratios? Personal experiences? Does it work?? Side effects?? Cautions??
As yours is a medical inquiry rather than one "concerning the scientific aspects of decompression," the focus of the Ask Dr Decompression forum, I have taken the liberty of moving it to the Diving Medicine section. Dr Deco will still see it.
In the meantime, a search of the Diving Medicine forum will reveal threads such as this one that are responsive to your inquiry---->
A number of over the counter remedies are available...
...for that kind of a problem. I was at the ENT's today for the final visit for my ear infection (both ears) that was quite severe. The ENT wrote a prescription for ear drops to use after a dive, but when I told him that I had picked some up after experiencing problems after diving in Lake Ontario a few weeks ago, he said the over the counter stuff was just fine. The one I have, purchased in a drugstore in Kingston, Ontario is called AURO-DRI and is 95% Isopropyl Alcohol and has some Anhydrous Glycerin to hold it together. It'll kill what bugs are in your ears, and dry them out as the Isopropyl evaporates, it takes the water with it. From now on, I'll put a few drops in each ear after a day of diving and hope to have no more problems with infections...
the white vinegar/isopropyl alcohol mixture for years, but also carry Swim Ear and Auro-Dri just in case.
I have only had two ear infections in my life, one from diving in a quarry, the other the result of a severe sinus infection. The diving infection was in 1990 and prompted me to start using the home mix.
The vinegar/alcohol mixture is usually 50/50 for me. Get gallon jug of vinegar at Wal-Mart and large bottle of alcohol for about the same price as a couple onces of OTC stuff.
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