Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Summer vacations, hot weather and ways to cool off bring numerous trips to the swimming pool and beach! Nothing can ruin a vacation faster than an earache/ear infection!

We sat down with Puerto Vallarta ENT extraordinaire, Dr. Diaz-Nuñez, and posed a few questions:

HCR: After swimming in a pool or ocean, what is the best way to immediately get water out of your ears?

Dr. Diaz: The most traditional way is to tilt your head forward, looking at the ground and shaking your head left and right. If it is just water that is caught, that should clear it. If it doesn't, it may mean that you have some debris or ear wax holding in the water. Avoid manipulating your ear with keys, pens, pencils or Q-Tips.

By the way, Q-tips were not made to clean INSIDE the ear canal, just outside! If in the next 24 hours it does not clear up, it is best to see an ENT. Sand will go in to every natural orifice that we have, including our ears.

As soon as we go under water, the canal expands and gets pushed against our ear drum and there is humidity retained behind this plug, increasing the sensation of a plugged ear.

When there is already pre-existing ear wax plug or some other debris in our ears, the sensation is increased. The humid condition in the ears opens the pores of the skin in the ear canals and makes an easy access for fungi and bacteria to enter and cause an infection. Pain usually equals infection.

HCR: What is your recommended treatment for this?

Dr. Diaz: Treatment normally consists of removing debris or ear wax and administering topical antibiotic drops. Some cases, of course, are more severe and oral antibiotics and pain medications are needed.

HCR: It always amazes me when I see things that come out of people's ears when you clean them!

Dr. Diaz: Yes, and especially in our area here with so much humidity. Remember that this type of infection can really ruin your vacation because during treatment, water activities are very restricted! Seek assistance with the first signs of infection.

Dr. Diaz serves on the staffs of three major hospitals in Puerto Vallarta: Amerimed, CMQ and San Javier. He holds a medical degree from the University of Guadalajara and an advanced degree from the Instituto de Mexicano del Seguro Social. Dr. Diaz also is the physician who participates in the very popular HealthCare Resources Ear Clinics. For an appointment, please contact pamela(at)healthcareresourcespv.com

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Pamela Thompson has lived and worked in Puerto Vallarta for over 17 years, 10 of them in health care. Pamela now leads HealthCare Resources Puerto Vallarta, a local healthcare resource network. Her years of experience and expertise are available to you by emailing your questions to pamela(at)healthcareresourcespv.com or by visiting HealthCareResourcesPV.com.

Click HERE to learn more about the health and well-being services offered by HealthCare Resources Puerto Vallarta.