General Care Of The Ear
January 15, 2009 by rainier
If a hole in the eardrum or a cholesteatoma is present, you should not allow water to get into your ear canal. This may be avoided when showering or washing the hair by placing cotton or lambs wool in the external ear canal and covering it with a layer of vaseline. Swimming is permissible if you use a small ear plug. Your otologist (ear surgeon) can advise you in regard to this.
You should avoid blowing your nose in order to prevent any infection in your nose from spreading to the ear through the Eustachian tube. Any nasal secretions preferably should be drawn backward and expectorated. If it is absolutely necessary to blow your nose, do not occlude or compress one nostril while blowing the other.
In the event of ear drainage, the ear canal should be kept clean by means of a small cotton tipped applicator. Medication, as prescribed, should be used if discharge is present or when discharge occurs. Cotton is placed in the outer ear to catch any discharge but should not be allowed to block the ear canal.
