Summer is here and with it the holidays. Months of disconnection, sun and pools are coming. Yep, how do you know… in the next few months, you’ll be spending hours in the pool, even more if you have young children. They love it, that’s the reality.
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But not everything is perfect in this hot season. Aside from the arrival of pesky mosquitoes (tips for avoiding them), the first symptoms of a common condition called “swimming ear,” or otitis externa, may appear quickly.
The so-called “swimmer’s ear”According to specialty health website MedlinePlus, “Inflammation, irritation, or infection of the outside of the ear and the external auditory canal. The medical term for swimmer’s ear is otitis externa. ”
Summer otitis media: causes
“Swimming ear” is more common in young children, Even those who are preteens or young adults for various reasons.
It can actually occur with a middle ear infection or a respiratory infection such as a cold. It can occur for several reasons:
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Swimming in dirty water and being affected by bacteria
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fungal infection
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Scratching and causing damage to the ear or the inside of the ear
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something stuck in the ear
Dr. Isabel Cardoso, Head of the Tinnitus Unit at Vithas Internacional, revealed on the BuscandoRespuestas.com website that the children The smallest eustachian tube has a peculiar anatomical shape.
“Shorter, narrower and with a very horizontal layout, the entry of catarrh It is easier to reach the middle ear cavity,” says the expert.
The onset of otitis media is minimal
Otitis media may start as pain in one or more ears, and an infection occurs when pus builds up behind the eardrum. Therefore, it will be accompanied by ear discomfort, pain, and even hearing loss. In less severe cases, fever may also occur.
Tips for Avoiding Swimming Ear Infections in Children
The first thing you should know is that otitis media is seasonal, and summer is one of the periods of the year when otitis media occurs most often and especially, as already emphasized, when it occurs least frequently. To avoid it:
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Avoid sudden changes in temperature as this favors inflammation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa
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controlling cold or symptoms
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Nasal wash is helpful
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use earplugs and avoid cotton swabs
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avoid strenuous diving or excessive diving
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Be aware of health and hygiene measures in swimming pools
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Avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke (facilitates recurrent ear infections)