Ask Doctor Cory.

Dear Dr. Cory:

I got a wart over the summer. Can going to swim lessons affect my wart?

Kate Reed Beverly, Massachusetts 

Dear Dr. Cory:

Lots of people tell me that you get warts if you touch a frog, but I don't think so. Where do warts really come from?

Cassidi Hall White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia 

Dear Kate and Cassidi:

Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus. The virus invades the skin cells and makes them multiply rapidly.

Warts are contagious, but they tend to spread on the person with the wart rather than to other people. Avoid picking at them to keep them from spreading.

If you still have a wart on your toe, there are several wart treatments available at your pharmacy. Your doctor can also remove them by surgery or by freezing them. Check to see what he recommends for your type of wart.

Going to swim lessons won't affect the healing of your wart. However, wart viruses can easily be picked up in the shower or in the locker room at pools and gyms. Wear sandals while in these areas.

Dear Dr. Cory:

Why do people put cotton balls in their ears when they get an earache or ear infection? How does it help?

Alicia Blum Norfolk, Nebraska 

Dear Alicia:

Some people get an infection in the skin lining the outer ear, often called swimmer's ear. If water gets trapped in the outer ear, the skin in the outer ear can get soft. This makes it easier for bacteria to get into the softened skin, grow, and start an infection.

To get rid of the infection, medicine can be applied and the infected ear must be kept dry. Some people wear balls of lamb's wool, which repel water, or cotton balls covered with petroleum jelly. These work like earplugs to keep their ears dry while taking a shower or a bath. Swimming should be avoided as the ear heals.

You can reduce your chance of getting swimmer's ear by following several easy tips.

* Don't use cotton swabs, especially if you are one who tends to get swimmer's ear. The swabs remove the earwax that protects your ears from bacteria and moisture.

* After swimming or showering, dry your ears carefully with a towel. Tilt your head from side to side and gently tug your ear in different directions to help the water run out.

Dear Dr. Cory:

I enjoy swimming, with my older brother. When I swim under water for a while, my head starts to hurt. Why does this occur?

Natasha Montgomery Long Sault, Ontario, Canada

Dear Natasha:

I am glad you are swimming; it's a sport you can enjoy all of your life.

When you are under water, the water above you is pushing down on you. The deeper you are, the greater this water pressure. Your inner ear and your sinus cavities can be affected by water pressure, which can cause pain or a feeling of pounding in your head. To relieve some of this pressure, gently blow bubbles through your nose while you are under water.

See you next issue! Your friend,

Cory SerVaas, M.D.

Just What the Dr. Ordered

Feel the Pressure

Here is an experiment to help you understand water pressure:

Cut the top off of a cardboard milk carton. Punch four pencil holes down one side in a straight line. Put the carton in water until it fills up, then lift it out. Notice how the water comes out of the holes. Out of which hole does water shoot the farthest?

Now put the container in the water again, but don't let the water go over the top this time. Watch as the water comes into the container through the pencil holes. Again, the water comes through the bottom holes the fastest. Why?

It's because the water at the bottom is being pressed down by all the water above it. The extra pressure pushes the water through the holes faster.