Swimmers Ear - what fresh hell is this?

[sillywitch]

I was diagnosed with swimmers ear while on holiday in Spain, three days before flying home (I still have nightmares about that plane journey, oh the pain!). In Spain I was given ear drops (antibiotics, antiseptic and steroids) and upon getting back to UK got antibiotics from the nurse at the GPs. Its been 14 days now and antibiotics finished yesterday. They did a great job of stopping the pain and I can see an improvement in my ear canal. But all of a sudden, I have slight pain in my jaw and ear again, plus it's a little numb on the side of my face. It's not bad, just annoying. Just wondering if anyone else has had this and how long it took to clear up...the internet says three days, five days, ten days... wondering if worth going back to GP or not. I haven't gotten my ear wet since it was diagnosed.

DD had this - its awful, you have my sympathies. I'd go back to the Dr, I ignored it for several days thinking they didn't give antibiotics for ear infections these days, then googled and realised what she had. It took 2 lots of drops to get rid of it.

Both of my dcs are prone to this wretched condition.

Antibiotics usually clear it up within a couple of days.

Our saving grace has been acidifying ear spray and me saying 'stop going underwater' 20x per day on holiday.

Dd gets this. I stick a bit of garlic in her ear (wrap in tissue). This seems to clear it up without using antibiotics. It takes about 3 days but I'd rather she doesn't use antibiotics if she doesn't have too. If it hurts some pain killers are given. It usually stops hurting a lot after 24 hrs.

Thanks for the replies! Wow, garlic, never heard of this but willing to try anything at the moment...on the list to buy tomorrow. The pain seems to be getting worse, I'm going back to the GP tomorrow. I just thought 10 days of drops and a course of amoxicillin would cure all. The (lovely) Spanish doctor did say "you have a baaaaad infection" though (before I left 80 EUR lighter...).

I had swimmers ear - otitis externa for 10 years - px ear drops - no permanent cure - Until I found a great cream. Brulidine. Works wonders. Says on the packet - for outer Ear Infectiions. Active in pus and blood. Antiseptic and antibacterial.

Also - only use sparingly - is TCP - diluted with water in a glass pippit tube. Half water and half tcp which is strong so be careful - can burn.