NEW YORK, May 18, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Ear wax helps avoid otitis externa
-- swimmer's ear -- a U.S. doctor says.
Dr. Ian Storper of the New York -Presbyterian Hospital/ Columbia University
Medical Center explains swimmer's ear is actually an inflammation of the
external ear canal and the wax producing -- cerumen -- glands that it lines. The
root of the problem is an absence of ear wax which protects the thin skin of the
ear from summer's high humidity and heat as well as the exposure of the ear
canal to bacteria-laden waters
Swimmer's ear sufferers usually complain of sharp pain in the ear and jaw area
and hearing loss. There may also be severe itching in the ear canal, but
scratching worsens the condition which can require the use of eardrops and oral
antibiotics. If an infection develops, Storper advises seeking medical
attention.
Understanding the important role of ear wax, Storper says, can help swimmers
prevent swimmer's ear. For instance, he cautions against using cotton swabs or
anything else to remove the normal ear wax lining protecting the ear canal.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International