With summer approaching, a panel of medical experts has put together a list of recommendations for treating a common problem among people who spend time in the water: swimmer’s ear. The infection, which can be very painful, is caused when water that becomes trapped in the ear during swimming helps bacteria breed. About one in 10 people suffer from the problem at some point in their lives, say the doctors, whose recommendations appear in Otolaryngology ? Head & Neck Surgery.

The condition is often improperly treated by doctors, said one of the report’s authors, Dr. Richard M. Rosenfeld of SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Long Island College Hospital. “The problem is, there tends to be a reflex grasp for oral medication when someone comes in with ear pain,” he said. In fact, oral antibiotics are often ineffective and should not be used unless the infection extends beyond the ear canal, the recommendations say.

The guidelines, based on a review of the medical literature, were called the first comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations for doctors treating swimmer’s ear, once known as acute otitis externa. Among the highlights, the guidelines say, the condition should be treated with topical antiseptic and antibiotic drops, which tend to be more effective than oral antibiotics and are not as likely to produce antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

It is not just a matter of using the drops, however. For the medicine to be effective, patients must be told how to make sure it gets to the right place. This may involve removing debris from the ear or using a special wick to drip the medicine in if the canal is swollen, the panel said.

3 HARMFUL SUBSTANCES PRESENT IN POOLS

1: Disinfectants: Disinfectants used in swimming pools can affect human health. Swimming pool ventilation is often insufficient and volatile byproducts of disinfectants remain in the water. Research shows that staff employed in cleaning the pools suffer from forgetfulness, fatigue, chronic colds, voice problems, eye irritations, headache, sore throat, eczema and frontal sinus inflammation.

2: Chlorine: Chlorine and chlorine substances dissolved in water dehydrate hair and skin. Swimmers can also suffer from dental abrasion. High concentration of chlorine may cause eye irritation, eczema and rashes.

3: Chloroform: Chloroform is a byproduct of the reaction between the disinfectants and pollutants present in the pool. Exposure to low concentrations of chloroform causes renal and liver defects. These can be demonstrated by enzymes in the blood which are indicators for renal and liver functions. Long-term oral exposure to chloroform cause liver cancer.