Hi!
We are two families that just have returned from two wonderful weeks on Tobago. We really enjoyed the island and the climate. We averaged one new beach/day without paying for the beach visits (we avoided Pigeon point in other words).
Snorkelling was a real hit for all of us (to myself in particular with a mask correcting for my glasses). But the problem for our kids were Ear infections. After one week of swimming and snorkelling three out of four were on medication for their ears and more or less had to stay out of the water.
The doctor at Milford court in Bon Accord told us that the two things he were treating tourists for were ear infections and mosquito bites.
Therefore I would like to forward this information to others who like to snorkel to use earplugs to try to avoid infections.[/u]
Use ear plugs against ear infections
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Nora
Hello Anders A, I too have just returned from tobago and my partner also ended up in a chemist with an ear infection. The chemist on the main road in scarborough is very helpful though. I was bitten terribly by mosquitoes and the anti-histemene tablets he reccomended were half the price they cost in britain and much more effective!!! Oooh im itching now just at the thought of it 
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Louise I
- myTobago Nut
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2003 8:58 pm
- Location: Brighton UK
Hi guys,
Sorry you have suffered ear infections in Tobago - I have also suffered!! The "problem" is that the water is so alive if you're ears are not dried out properly you can easily get a fungal infection. You can buy stuff at the chemists which you put in after swimming which prevents these type of infections though - can't remember what it is called but the Chemist will know.
Regards
Louise
Sorry you have suffered ear infections in Tobago - I have also suffered!! The "problem" is that the water is so alive if you're ears are not dried out properly you can easily get a fungal infection. You can buy stuff at the chemists which you put in after swimming which prevents these type of infections though - can't remember what it is called but the Chemist will know.
Regards
Louise
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Paul Haresign
Hi
I too suffer from ear infections when diving. See links for use of olive oil for prevention and more conventional remedies.
My doctor treated my infection with an antibiotic spray and recommended that I use ear calm as a preventative measure in future. 'Ear Calm' can be ordered from your local pharmacy.
http://www.divernet.com/medical/0503qanda.htm
http://www.rnreference.mod.uk/09/inm/prevman/pm2p15.htm
[broken links removed]
Paul
I too suffer from ear infections when diving. See links for use of olive oil for prevention and more conventional remedies.
My doctor treated my infection with an antibiotic spray and recommended that I use ear calm as a preventative measure in future. 'Ear Calm' can be ordered from your local pharmacy.
http://www.divernet.com/medical/0503qanda.htm
http://www.rnreference.mod.uk/09/inm/prevman/pm2p15.htm
[broken links removed]
Paul
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Martin D
ear infections - prevention, but beware ear plugs!
Hi,
Paul Haresign's post below has execellent links - just a couple of things to add
The UK brand of post-swim/dive ear drops is 'swim-ear' and you can get it from travel shops and dive shops for about a fiver (£5)- a good sports shop (e.g. thats sells equipment such as goggles and not just trendy trainers!) should also sell it. Its basically an alcohol based solution that helps to expel the water and lower the chances of water-borne bugs getting a foothold in the ear.
Having had past problems with otitis externa (swimmers ear) from diving and surfing I have gone for a more extreme preventative measure: Aluminium acetate solution - this is apparently very effective and is Royal Navy reccomended, but beware - it has taken me weeks to get it in from a pharmacist and it is expensive (£45+!!). I just hope it arrives in time for my flight out on the 20th!
Secondly please be aware that many people would NOT reccommed ear plugs as a 'preventative' measure for 2 reasons
1. The physical insertion of the plug in the ear (especially if tight enough to seal water out) will in itself scour the surface of the ear canal, this can scrape off the natural waxy layer that protects the skin and make it more prone to infection should exposure to bugs occur - so using a solution such as swim-ear may be a better approach, but its a personal choice.
2. Ears with plugs in can not be pressure equalised - plugs should NOT be used for SCUBA or skin diving. You can now get (I have seen in the dive shops, they are expensive) masks with pressure equalising ear compartments if keeping the ear dry is your only option.
enjoy!
Paul Haresign's post below has execellent links - just a couple of things to add
The UK brand of post-swim/dive ear drops is 'swim-ear' and you can get it from travel shops and dive shops for about a fiver (£5)- a good sports shop (e.g. thats sells equipment such as goggles and not just trendy trainers!) should also sell it. Its basically an alcohol based solution that helps to expel the water and lower the chances of water-borne bugs getting a foothold in the ear.
Having had past problems with otitis externa (swimmers ear) from diving and surfing I have gone for a more extreme preventative measure: Aluminium acetate solution - this is apparently very effective and is Royal Navy reccomended, but beware - it has taken me weeks to get it in from a pharmacist and it is expensive (£45+!!). I just hope it arrives in time for my flight out on the 20th!
Secondly please be aware that many people would NOT reccommed ear plugs as a 'preventative' measure for 2 reasons
1. The physical insertion of the plug in the ear (especially if tight enough to seal water out) will in itself scour the surface of the ear canal, this can scrape off the natural waxy layer that protects the skin and make it more prone to infection should exposure to bugs occur - so using a solution such as swim-ear may be a better approach, but its a personal choice.
2. Ears with plugs in can not be pressure equalised - plugs should NOT be used for SCUBA or skin diving. You can now get (I have seen in the dive shops, they are expensive) masks with pressure equalising ear compartments if keeping the ear dry is your only option.
enjoy!
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Sam Deeks
Hmmm... not sure the ocean is to blame, folks
Just back from Tobago (2 weeks) - first time EVER I was crippled with the worst ear infection (my partner too - though hers was caught early enough with anti-biotics).
Point being - this trip was the FIRST time (in many Tobago visits) that I stayed in a hotel with a pool, and swam underwater in that pool.
Now, I'm not going to name the hotel.... YET. But several other people had same ear infection (found them by chance while sitting by pool) and same house doctor, same diagnosis, same treatment,
It emerged that even the guests without ear infections were universally concerned about the pool's cleanliness (a few weeks earlier it had been closed because a drunk had sxxx and puked in it!). Our local friends said they wouldn't swim in it if we paid them... not that we were in a position to, by the time we'd paid local doctor!
I spoke frankly with the hotel manager and let him know that I was fairly confident (statistical likelihood of several people at same hotel treated for same infection and recent unsanitary pool history) that his duty of care had not been properly met, costing both of us the best part of a week laid up in what at times approached agony.
I'm waiting to hear the result of his pool analysis... if ever before I name and shame this hotel... and the tour operator if they don't offer some expression of... concern.
Meantime, trust the ocean more than pools, folks, it's by far and away more capable of processing and stabilising bacteria than that artificial soup bowl we call the swimming pool, without any naturally balancing biological processes.
Take care!
Sam
Point being - this trip was the FIRST time (in many Tobago visits) that I stayed in a hotel with a pool, and swam underwater in that pool.
Now, I'm not going to name the hotel.... YET. But several other people had same ear infection (found them by chance while sitting by pool) and same house doctor, same diagnosis, same treatment,
It emerged that even the guests without ear infections were universally concerned about the pool's cleanliness (a few weeks earlier it had been closed because a drunk had sxxx and puked in it!). Our local friends said they wouldn't swim in it if we paid them... not that we were in a position to, by the time we'd paid local doctor!
I spoke frankly with the hotel manager and let him know that I was fairly confident (statistical likelihood of several people at same hotel treated for same infection and recent unsanitary pool history) that his duty of care had not been properly met, costing both of us the best part of a week laid up in what at times approached agony.
I'm waiting to hear the result of his pool analysis... if ever before I name and shame this hotel... and the tour operator if they don't offer some expression of... concern.
Meantime, trust the ocean more than pools, folks, it's by far and away more capable of processing and stabilising bacteria than that artificial soup bowl we call the swimming pool, without any naturally balancing biological processes.
Take care!
Sam