In the heat of summer, it is a good season for swimming. However, along with the coolness of the pool comes the plague of otitis media and other ear, nose and throat diseases. Every summer, the number of patients in hospital ENT departments rises significantly, and many of them are patients with otitis media caused by swimming. When swimming, the epithelial layer of the external ear canal is softened and swollen by water immersion, the cuticle is destroyed, and the ability to resist infection is significantly weakened. At this time, if there is a break in the skin of the external ear canal, common pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus hemolyticus, fungi, etc.) can easily invade and cause otitis externa. The middle ear is located deep in the external auditory canal, and the outer side is separated from the middle ear by the eardrum, which normally prevents bacteria and moisture from the external ear canal from entering the middle ear. However, if you have previously suffered from chronic otitis media, a perforated eardrum, or an injury to the ear canal
However, if you have a chronic middle ear infection, a perforated eardrum, or a damaged ear canal, water can easily enter the middle ear directly, making it moist and inflammatory for bacteria to multiply and grow. In addition, some people go swimming before they get well from a cold, so their resistance decreases and bacteria from the nasal cavity enters the middle ear canal, which can also cause otitis media. If otitis media is not dealt with in the acute stage, it becomes more difficult to become chronic. Repeated attacks of otitis media can lead to tinnitus, hearing loss, and even deafness in severe cases. If you find ear pain, hearing loss, tinnitus, or symptoms of gurgling sounds in the ears, or even pus flowing, you must go to the hospital promptly. To prevent otitis media, it is important to do the following six steps: 1. You can ask your doctor to examine your ears before swimming. If you have tympanic membrane perforation, otitis media and other diseases, you should not swim to prevent the recurrence of the disease; 2. Try not to make big movements when swimming, such as diving, to avoid choking; 3. Use special ear plugs when swimming to prevent the entry of water; 4. If there is water in the ear canal when swimming, tilt your head to one side so that the ear canal is facing down and jump several times on one foot to make the water in the ear canal flow out automatically. Afterwards, use a clean cotton swab dipped in alcohol or ear canal cleaning solution to gently wipe the ear canal to kill pathogenic bacteria and prevent infection in the ear canal. 5. If water accidentally enters your nasal cavity while swimming, you should press your finger on one nostril and blow the secretions out of the other nasal cavity, and then blow the other side in the same way to avoid sewage and microorganisms from entering your middle ear through the eustachian tube; 6. Develop good personal hygiene habits and do not use tools such as ear digging spoons to pull out your ears to avoid damage to the external ear canal and otitis externa. I wish everyone can enjoy a “cool” summer day!