Ear Infections and North Florida Caves???

[Randy Thornton]

Cave diving in N. Florida is the only place I ever get ear infections. I suspect that the water has much nastier bacteria there than in many places around the world for whatever reason. Could be all the cows and sceptic tanks! I use ear beer every night while on a cave diving trip. I've found that a minimum of 5 mins. on each side is necessary for me or it doesn't work. I really don't think that it is the moisture left in my ears as much as the bacteria, since I don't seem to get infections anywhere else.

[Meister481]

I get em everywhere. Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, just about every Quarry I've been to.. I finally went to a Cipro HCI drop to battle the infection. Works every time.

[Webmaster]

I've had my share, and generally try to use some ear beer right after.

I've also had some middle ear infections though that really sucked. I suspect that it's pretty easy to get water from the reg inhaled back up into the eustachian tubes. This may be more likely sidemounting since we'll be changing regs more regularly.

I bought a nasal irrigator a while back to try and do something about that. It really seems to help, also when the allergies kick in it helps to clear it all out.

[scubagrunt]

Cave diving in N. Florida is the only place I ever get ear infections. I suspect that the water has much nastier bacteria there than in many places around the world for whatever reason. Could be all the cows and sceptic tanks! I use ear beer every night while on a cave diving trip. I've found that a minimum of 5 mins. on each side is necessary for me or it doesn't work. I really don't think that it is the moisture left in my ears as much as the bacteria, since I don't seem to get infections anywhere else.

Thanks for all the help guys!!! i NEVER EVER except in north florida get ear infections and i dive lake michigan, lake superior the ocean etc. i even dive in our local lake washington which is BLACK and i know they pump poop in there !!! still no ear infections!! interesting that the seemingly clean springs are septic pools!!! ear Beer for me from now on. still in pain!!!
its coming along.
mel

ps kevin you were ment to call me!!! sorry

[stairman]

I wouldnt call them septic pools but there is some bacteria in all bodies of water. Some are more prone to infections than others at different times and proper earcare is the key.

[FW]

My algorithm:

Go to Mexico and cavedive there. (does anyone else find it funny that the spell checker on cavediver.net barfs at the word "cavedive"?) While in Mexico, pick up a pack of 100 or so amoxycillin tablets from one of the many pharmacies on the waterfront at Playa del Carmen (you have now spent ca. $20). Use only if an ear infection has actually started - otherwise stick to just ear beer, you don't want to be one of the many culprits who reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics by overusing them and encouraging the germs to resist. Ear beer is your first line of defence. Replace the pack when it's been out of date for a year or so - of course you never get through all the tablets. With ear beer, hopefully you never need them, but if ear beer fails, having antibiotics IMMEDIATELY available will save you hours of agony. I don't bother with 10 minute ear beer sessions myself, too much out of your life. The antibiotics are ALSO useful when a cold blocks up your ear just like the water does when diving - and a secondary bacterial infection develops there. Once again, only use the pills when an infection has happened - they're no use against the cold virus itself.

Cheers,

Charles.

Charles, antibiotics won't do a thing for an outer ear infection. They are for middle ear infections.

A quick way to tell the difference is to tug on your earlobe. It it hurts, it is most likely an outer ear infection, and Cortisporin Otic is what you need. If it doesn't hurt, it might be a middle ear infection, and those are very dangerous, so you should see a doctor immediately.

[sskasser]

I've had my share, and generally try to use some ear beer right after.

I've also had some middle ear infections though that really sucked. I suspect that it's pretty easy to get water from the reg inhaled back up into the eustachian tubes. This may be more likely sidemounting since we'll be changing regs more regularly.

I bought a nasal irrigator a while back to try and do something about that. It really seems to help, also when the allergies kick in it helps to clear it all out.

Wow, cool, I never thought about getting the bacteria in from the "other" side of the ear. That is definitely something to think about.

[LCF]

Charles, antibiotics won't do a thing for an outer ear infection. They are for middle ear infections.

Actually, systemic antibiotics WILL work for an outer ear infection, if they are the correct ones. We generally do not use them simply because the drops work and do not give a dose to the entire body, thus avoiding gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea or colitis.

The typical organism for otitis externa is a pseudomonas species, and they are rarely, if ever, sensitive to amoxacillin. They are sensitive to neosporin (which is the cortisporin solution often prescribed) and to fluoroquinolones like Cipro.

It is highly unlikely to get bacteria into the middle ear via the Eustachian tube, unless you are doing some extremely forcible equalization. More likely is to get some barotrauma and create a rich culture medium which is seeded by normal bacterial flora, or via the bloodstream.

I have never had otitis externa, but I noted that when I came home from this last Florida trip, I had the foulest smelling earwax for about two weeks. There is SOMETHING nasty in that water!

[sskasser]

There is SOMETHING nasty in that water!

LOL, yeah, there is....cave divers!

[MORGAN]

LOL, yeah, there is....cave divers!

LOL - Some nastier than others!

Mike