How to treat swimmer's ear

[LFMarm]

Thank you!

An important part of any medicine is the instruction of its application. Do you have experience using it – necessary number of drops, time left in the ear canal, before/after dive, between each dive and the like?

Let us know your observations.

I am planning to use the USN protocol — 5 minutes per ear

 

[frog@man]

I am planning to use the USN protocol — 5 minutes per ear

Could you please, share the USN protocol - link or document?; Or share a bit more details, such as 5 minutes per ear before or after each dive, or just before/after a number of dives for the day, or the treatment is applied before and after.

 

[Akimbo]

Could you please, share the USN protocol - link or document?; Or share a bit more details, such as 5 minutes per ear before or after each dive, or just before/after a number of dives for the day.

Click here:

Info - US Navy Diving Manual, Revision 7A, 2018

Document Name: US Navy Diving Manual Revision 7 Change A, 30 April 2018 Author: Naval Sea Systems Command See the attached file: Filename: US Navy Diving Manual Rev7A 2018.pdf File Format: Adobe Acrobat Size: 11.5 MB Pages: 987 Click on the Share this thread icon to copy the link to this...

scubaboard.com

Acrobat Page 672:

13-18.2 Prevention of External Ear Infections. Severe ear infections can develop unless preventative measures are taken. An effective preventative regime includes irrigating each ear with 2 percent acetic acid in aluminum acetate solution (i.e., DOMEBORO) for 5 minutes once each day. Irrigation shall be observed by the Diving Supervisor, timed by the clock, and logged.

Edit:
Domeboro is widely available including from Amazon:

Domeboro Medicated Soak - Relief at Last

Irritating Skin Conditions are Frustrating. Find out more about common skin conditions and recommended treatment options. Learn More

domeboro.com

Domeboro

Domeboro Brand Store

www.amazon.com

 

[doctormike]

I guess I would defer to the Navy, but that seems excessive. There are two types of drops: Antibiotic/steroid drops which treat swimmer's ear, and drying drops like the alcohol/vinegar preparations which are just to displace water and drop the pH. The first may need some time to work, but the second is really meat as a topical agent to rinse out the ear canal

Now if you have a lot of debris (e.g. earwax) in your ear, then the drying agent might not work so quickly. But then the important thing is to get that removed. Otherwise, it is VERY hard to treat otitis externa. Sort of like trying to treat diaper rash without changing the diaper....

 

[johndiver999]

Click here:

Info - US Navy Diving Manual, Revision 7A, 2018

Document Name: US Navy Diving Manual Revision 7 Change A, 30 April 2018 Author: Naval Sea Systems Command See the attached file: Filename: US Navy Diving Manual Rev7A 2018.pdf File Format: Adobe Acrobat Size: 11.5 MB Pages: 987 Click on the Share this thread icon to copy the link to this...

scubaboard.com

Acrobat Page 672:


Edit:
Domeboro is widely available including from Amazon:

Domeboro Medicated Soak - Relief at Last

Irritating Skin Conditions are Frustrating. Find out more about common skin conditions and recommended treatment options. Learn More

domeboro.com

Domeboro

Domeboro Brand Store

www.amazon.com

I used to have a solution made up with that name from the pharmacy, but they stopped making it, quite a while ago. I had since forgot the actual name. I think I remember that the recipe included adding some glycerin? Anyway, it was WAY better at preventing swimmers ear compared to vinegar and alcohol (for me any way).

How do you make the solution using those products? Recommended dilutions etc.

 

[Akimbo]

I guess I would defer to the Navy, but that seems excessive

Ya think? Does that include:

Irrigation shall be observed by the Diving Supervisor, timed by the clock, and logged.

 

[frog@man]

Edit:
Domeboro is widely available including from Amazon:

Just to clarify; Are you sure this is the same Domeboro as the one mentioned in the USN manual?

 

[Akimbo]

Just to clarify; Are you sure this is the same Domeboro as the one mentioned in the USN manual?

I copied and pasted. I like you guys but not enough to transcribe that much.

 

[gbf]

From Dan:

Otitis Externa: Can You Prevent It?

The diving has been great all week. Now, while sitting in your room, you notice that one of your ears itches and feels wet. You look in the mirror and don&rsquo

alertdiver.eu

Dr. Edley's 1971 paper referenced in the DAN article is available for $15 if you want to read it.

 

[frog@man]

Dr. Edley's 1971 paper referenced in the DAN article is available for $15 if you want to read it.

So, by the article above, the correct Domeboro is Domeboro Otic solution, which is a prescription drug.