Preventing Swimmer's Ear and Swollen Tonsils and Inflamed Ears

Though mainstream doctors won't tell you this I think you could eliminate the problem by eliminating some foods that could be causing allergies (including swollen tonsils) Try eliminating the eight foods that account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions. These are: milk, egg, peanut, tree nut (walnut, cashew, etc.), fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat for a few weeks and see if there is improvement. My son's ear infections etc. cleared up soon after eliminating cow's milk! Good luck!

It sounds like there are issues that suppress immune function in those areas. I would avoid mucus-inducing foods - all dairy foods and anything else the kids may be sensitive to, and supplement with vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and superfoods, especially sea vegetation. The allopathic medical approach is really backwards in that it attacks things with antibiotics rather than strengthening and balancing the immune system. Plugging the ears when swimming in pools isn't a bad idea... unfortunately pools are generally treated with chlorine which is an iodine blocking chemical that weakens the thyroid and thus depletes resources in the ear, nose, and throat area, so staying away from swimming pools for a while may help.

Hi T.,

Believe it or not, this is a good thing. Most people think the tonsils are not necessary but they are what catch toxins/poisons before they enter the body. (More heart disease occurs in those that don't have their tonsils than those who still have them.)If they are inflamed, they are doing what they are supposed to, it's just they are being overloaded!

The next issue is how to get the "flame" to go down. Building her immune system is the only way for a long term solution. Meds, even over the counter ones, prevent symptoms but they are a culprit in breaking down the immune system because they are synthetic chemicals that the body is not equiped to handle. All synthetic chemicals (e.g. chlorine in the pool) break down the immune system, from cleaning supplies to bath and body products to preservatives in foods. This sounds overwhelming because you can't dodge everything...but you can dodge a lot by just making a few simple changes. If you want to know more, I'll be glad to fill you in. Detoxing a little body is simpler than detoxing one our age because they have not yet been exposed to as much as we have yet. It's also not an expensive endeavor either. In the long run, it is actually a cost savings.

Regards,

M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

Swimmer's ear is a fungal infection. What I found best for my 3 was aloe vera juice. Rinse the ears before and after swimming and continue rinsing as long as they have symptoms.

Rinse the ears of the one with tonsil problems also. Have them gargle aloe juice several times a day. Aloe is slightly bitter so you may want to add a little flavoring. The best price that I have found for aloe is WalMart--$8./gal. and store in refrigerator. You can use aloe for everything. Even repels fleas.

Also give the kids probiotics (acidophilus--yogurt) every day. GNC has a very tasty chewable the kids will love.
Probiotics crowd fungus out of the intestines.

Good Luck and God Bless

My grandaughter has been in swimming lessons during summers for the last 3-4 years and neither she nor any other kid there have suffered from ear problems. The instructors put a drop of alcohol and vinegar in each ear right after they come out of the pool. It's an equal parts mix. Really works.
For your other little angel, guess you should consider having her tonsils and adenoids removed. It's a quite common procedure and really helps with infections and lost nights. Good luck

Hello T..

I am a working mom to 3 children (Boy 15, Girl 13, Boy 5) and I've had my share of "illnesses".

As for "swimmer's ear" prevention, there are some drops sold everywhere (they're cheaper at wal-mart) called "swim ear"...these are God sent and they work just great, I promise! The drops can be administered after swimming or after a bath...it just takes a few drops (read instructions). My two older children went through some major swimmer's ear when we first moved to Florida (12 yrs. ago) due to swimming lessons...the doctor recommended these, I make sure to keep a few bottles of these in my medicine cabinet and I will say that I use them regularly on my youngest - he loves to swim. My older kids know to administer the drops after swimming or when they get water in their ear(s) after a shower. I promise you that they work great!

I didn't have any tonsil issues, but the coughing was one thing that always stressed me out, especially at night. Here's what I did to help them with their cough during the night...a circulated email at work came through my computer one day indicating that rubbing "Vicks Vapor Rub" on their feed and putting socks on them when they go to bed helped to stop the cough and it allowed them (and the parents) to have a good night's rest. Well, I tried it and IT WORKS!!! I did some research on it in the internet and I only found positive information about it. And, of course, after seeing the results for myself, I totally suggest that you try this with your daughter before going to bed.

I'm sorry I don't have experience with the "tonsils" issue, but going to the ENT is a smart thing to do.

Well, good luck and I hope that all goes well.

Hi, my 5 year old actually had very swollen ear drums and never once complained of ear infections but he always had sore throats and had strep throat soo many times that the ped finally gave us a refferal to the ent which was a godsend. He tested his hearing which was greatly diminished and decided to take his tonsild out and put tubes in his ears and he has not been sick since. After the surgery the surgeon came out to talk to me and told his adenoids were soo swollen and infected that they had actually blocked the back of his nose. I am very happy that we had this done tho I was scared at the time. My son is 5 and he has to stay over one night because he had alot of nausea and vomiting and I was afraid he would bleed so I think that they just kept him to appease me but it worked. Let me know what the ent says and I would ask hi about a hearing test. S.

Good Day,
Please use only ear tubes to help keep water out of your childs ear! No cotton, it will retain the water/moisture in her ears! My now 8 yr.old just had to have tubes put in to drain the water ect. out of her ears. It worked a lot, but she still has "selective" hearing! I have taught her, being 8 and needing bath privacy, to hold a dry wash rag over her eyes & ears when rinsing her hair out! That helps a lot! I too have swimmers ear and dry mine out after swimming with alcohol on a Q-tip. It dries up the water and works really well. Good luck and i am sure the ENT will be able to offer you more advice! I hope this helps you! God bless you and your family!
Truly,
Kathy N.

I suffered as a child with sore throats, allergies and sinus infections. Then as an adult has the tonsils removed. Never sick since.
See what the ENT has to say; and go to the health food store for some herbals to boost the immune system. I swear by Source Naturals' "Wellness Formula". Ask for drops and how much to give a child.
Blessings, S.

Have you checked to see if your kids can't digest dairy and thus get very congested? Or is there mold in your house or some other allergen?

http://www.notmilk.com/e.html

The best thing to do is prevent the problem not keep fixing is when it happens. Sorry to hear your little girl is suffering. If you eliminate dairy and sugar from her diet you will see wonderful healthy results.

peace,

my son gets swimmers ear all the time. My Dr. told us a 1/2 and 1/2 solution of vinegar and alcohol - the vinegar prevents bacteria from growin and the alcohol dries up the water. I have a little bottle I make each summer and a dropper. Each time after swimming - we put it in. Not right away - we just try and remember to do it before he goes to bed. He doesn't get swimmers ear all summer when we do this. Good luck. I'd look online to see what mixture comes up the most - either the vinegar and alcohol or the alcohol and water. The bottle was a plastic one in the travel section of walmart and the dropper was purchased there also.

I only have an answer for the swimmers ear.....My son/s get it every year. Ear plugs do help but mine rarely stay in. So here's an easy home remedy that works EVERY time. Equal amounts of alcohol and vinegar. I usually do it 1 TBL. at a time. Warm the vinegar if you keep it in your fridge. Just put a few drops in morning, evening or whenever . Night is good because the cotton ball tends to stay in longer.:>) In a day or so it will be gone! Do this a soon as they start to mention "stuffy" ear and it will never even get painful. Blessings!

My daughter has had swimmers ear and our Dr had us use a mixture of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part rubbing alcohol. The vinegar is a natural antibiotic and the rubbing alcohol will dry any water in the ear. I also use it to clean our ear if they are itchy.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/swimmers-ear/DS00473

Best Wishes!

T. B.

HI, my name is Cheri Chambers and I teach swimming. I recommend to my parents to use a solution of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar (50/50) after each exposure to water in the ear. This was recommended by the medical Dr. associated with our program. I use it with my grandchildren and it works. I keep a squirt bottle by the towels and just squirt as they get dried off and let it drip out of the ears. Good luck, once they get swimmers ear it will return unless you use the drops.