Water Precautions

If your family decides to use water precautions (that is, keeping water out of the ears), useful techniques are as follows:

For bathing: A shower cap over the ears can be used if not wetting hair, or a prune-sized wad of blu-tak moulded into the outer ear is useful for showers or bath-time play, or Vaseline on a cotton ball works as well.

For swimming: You may choose to use no precautions as above or, if concerned about water exposure, special sized ear plugs, a headband and a bathing cap provide three layer protection. Dr McKenzie also recommends fitted Doc’s Pro-Plugs or custom-made plugs for a snug fit – Dr McKenzie can size these for you in consultation. Many good pharmacies also supply swimming earplugs. Please be careful not to use silicone jelly earplugs too many times - they fragment and can be very difficult to remove if they break off in the deep canal.

If the ear gets wet: Simply shake out the excess water with the head on tilt. Alternatively, you may dry mop the outer ear with tissue and use a ‘tissue spear’ (a square of toilet paper folded repeatedly in triangles) to dry within the canal. This tissue spear is strong enough to clear water and debris, but soft enough not to hurt or harm the eardrum. Additionally, a hair dryer on a cool setting held at arms length can be helpful.

If the ear discharges: A little clear or blood-stained discharge after grommets is normal. Simply wipe it away as required, it represents the residual fluid draining from the previous glue ear and will settle without intervention. If the ear develops smelly, discoloured discharge, or if there is a lot of discharge that is not settling down, please see your GP or contact our office for a script. The best choice for grommets is Ciproxin HC for 7 days. If Ciproxin HC stings the ears and is not tolerated, then the second line choice is Ciloxan for 7 days.