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What Causes Pain And Swelling In Left Ear After Using Sofradex Drops?
Posted on
Fri, 13 May 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 13 May 2016
Answered on
Fri, 24 Jun 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Dear Dr. XXXXXXX Bhatti. I've been diving in Thailand for a couples of days. After the third day the right eye started to hurt a bit. i went to a pharmacy and bought some S.M.OTO. The next two days the pain continiues to grow. so i went to see a doctor. he then gave me Sofradex, Diclofenac and Ranclav 1g Antibiotics. I started the treatment but it seem to making things even worse. I had the feeling of an ich in the left ear too so i started to drop some Sofradex there too. Two days later the left ear was swollen and painfull too. (no swimming since four days) i went to a hospital and they changed the antibiotics to Poli-Cifloxin. As i start to be suspicious about the Sofradex, i started a test: i clean the left ear with ph-neutral soap and water and stopped droping Sofradex there. Now it seems to get better.. Is it possible that the whole pain was just a side effect of an ingridient from those ear drops? Should i really stop taking Sofradex. Since im two days away from Bangkok im not able to see a specialist. The amount of the pain is huge though and i hardly cant sleep. thank you
Brief Answer:
Most likely ear wax, infection, foreign body or allergy to the ear drops.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. This is most likely due to ear wax buildup or allergy to the ear drops.
2. Ideally, an direct ear examination with an otoscope will settle the diagnosis.
3. Ear wax is hygroscopic. It absorbs water and swells especially after swimming and diving.Ear drops will also cause the wax to swell initially worsening the pain.
4. Middle ear pressure difference after diving is also a common cause for severe ear pain. This is known ands ear barotrauma.
5. Routine tests besides direct ear examination should include a PTA ( Pure Tone Audiometry ) and I / A ( Impedance Audiometry / Tympanometry ).
6. Your current medication has you well covered for infection and some pain relief. However, you need s local ENT Specialist to differentiate between ear wax, infection ( sometimes fungal), ear barotrauma, foreign body in ear and so on.
7. You should avoid the ear drops at present. Add an anti-allergic medication.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Most likely ear wax, infection, foreign body or allergy to the ear drops.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. This is most likely due to ear wax buildup or allergy to the ear drops.
2. Ideally, an direct ear examination with an otoscope will settle the diagnosis.
3. Ear wax is hygroscopic. It absorbs water and swells especially after swimming and diving.Ear drops will also cause the wax to swell initially worsening the pain.
4. Middle ear pressure difference after diving is also a common cause for severe ear pain. This is known ands ear barotrauma.
5. Routine tests besides direct ear examination should include a PTA ( Pure Tone Audiometry ) and I / A ( Impedance Audiometry / Tympanometry ).
6. Your current medication has you well covered for infection and some pain relief. However, you need s local ENT Specialist to differentiate between ear wax, infection ( sometimes fungal), ear barotrauma, foreign body in ear and so on.
7. You should avoid the ear drops at present. Add an anti-allergic medication.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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