Eradicating Earaches

About two years ago, I noticed a rash on my ears of all places. I remember showing my husband my ears in distress. I hoped it would go away but it seemed to get worse. I saw my doctor and she told me it was some sort of fungus and she prescribed Lotrimin. Needless to say, the cream did nothing. I tried Neosporin and it helped somewhat but really I had to wait it out for weeks for the fungus to clear itself up.

My brother used to get ear infections frequently when he was younger. And now, my son is also vulnerable to ear infections or earaches. When he starts sniffling and tilting his head awkwardly, it is usually the first sign of trouble.

Ear infections are usually caused by another illness such as allergy or cold. Children are more likely than adults to get ear infections also known as middle ear infections. By three years of age, 80 percent of all children in the United States have had at least one episode of acute otitis media or ear infection, according to a PLOS One journal article. And 50 percent have had at least three episodes of acute otitis media. The estimated annual cost associated with this condition is over 5 billion dollars in the United States.

But it is important to note that some ear infections heal without antibiotic usage, which is standard treatment if the symptoms don’t resolve. The pain can be managed by over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Right now, I discovered a way to keep fungus infections at bay: apple cider vinegar. I know, I know what can’t apple cider vinegar do. I pour it on my washrag to clean out my ears daily. I have heard some people use hydrogen peroxide. But I’m not a doctor so please please consult one before trying any of these methods.