Outer Ear Infections (External Otitis)andFrequent Sore Throats byMurray Grossan M.D.

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Murray Grossan M.D.

Outer Ear Infections (External Otitis)

The human ear is not designed for California living -swimming, daily shampoo, hot tub, scuba diving. The human ear needs wax (cerumen) to protect against the ravages of soap and water. Unfortunately we are taught with religious fervor to scrub the ears with soap and water. WRONG. Or use alcohol ear drops. WRONG. You need the wax. What happens is that once the wax is out of the ear canal you have the equivalent of dishpan hands of the ear canal. The ears itch and you scratch it in your sleep, then it gets infected. So, avoid this by filling the ear canal with baby oil before shower or washing the hair. This prevents irritation caused by soap and water and helps keep the ear canal properly oiled. If itching does start, taking one of the over the counter antihistamines such as Chlortimeton or Benadryl at night may stop the itch and prevent you from scratching the ear in your sleep.


Frequent Sore Throats

Everyone gets a sore throat at some time. The nose and throat are constantly defending against outside elements and bacteria. When bacteria settle in the nose, the bacteria are seized and dragged off to "battle stations" or lymph glands where the good white cells are kept. More good blood comes to the area. There, the concentration of good white cells can overwhelm the bacteria. But when the lymph material swells, this causes a painful throat. The throat infection may be from a bacteria or a virus. It may be part of a generalized infection

There are 3 parts to the throat: the part behind the nose at the top of the throat called the nasopharynx where the tubes that run from the ears to the nose open, the middle throat where the tonsils are located and where you can often look at the throat, called the oropharynx and the lower part, behind and below the tongue, where the larynx or voice box is, the laryngopharynx.

When the top one third of the throat is affected, the ears may be infected too because the infection travels up the eustachian tube into the middle ear. When the lower 1/3 of the throat is infected, you may be hoarse because the larynx is swollen and can't function see Laryngitis or hoarseness. Many people get hoarse because they gargle with a sore throat, which is like rubbing your eyes when they are infected.

When you feel a sore throat coming on, aspirin chewing gum, any flavor is recommended. Ice drinks are best when there is swelling or pain.