Along With Summer Comes Ear Infections
It is not by chance that this infection is known as “swimmer’s ear”, as it appears due to the accumulation of fluids, generating inflammation. Depending on the area of the ear where this infection appears, it can be more or less severe.
As we know, the summer season is ideal for swimming in the pool or on the beach. It is also suitable for long journeys and from an early age keep the air conditioning on most of the time. The factors mentioned above are among the main causes of external otitis, which, in general, affects mainly children and adolescents.
Otitis is a very painful infection. And in the summer it usually affects many people, in particular because it can be transmitted through water, which when combined with heat is ideal for the proliferation of fungi and bacteria. The cold of the air conditioning and the pressure that is exerted on the ear during long journeys are also elements that cause the main cases of external otitis.
otitis symptoms
It is not just any discomfort in the ear that is a sign that we have otitis. However, it is necessary to be aware of any discomfort that children feel in the ear. Sometimes the disease develops because of wrong practices like scratching the ear or cleaning the ears. At the same time, it is also possible that there is a foreign body inside the ears.
When otitis develops, it presents the following symptoms:
- pain and inflammation
- Excessive itching on the spot
- Weight or pressure on the eardrum
- Fever
- vomiting
- tinnitus
- Greenish or yellowish secretions, sometimes with the presence of blood and an unpleasant odor
- Total or partial hearing loss
What do otitis specialists recommend?
The speech therapist Luisa Ortega, head of the Quality, Training and Audiology Department, recommends taking some precautions to avoid getting contaminated with the painful otitis. One of the main recommendations is to try to prevent our ears from getting contaminated because, after the disease reaches our body, it may require intensive medical treatment.
So, it is very important that we avoid ear contamination. Therefore, it is recommended to keep them dry as long as possible. Otitis can develop in summer bathers because moisture remains in the ear canal for a long time. To avoid this, we can use ear plugs or constantly dry this area.
Other tips to prevent this disease are as follows:
- Let the earwax act as a natural buffer to keep out water. Therefore, it is not good to clean your ears thoroughly during this time.
- Avoid bathing in unclean water.
- Keep the ear area dry after showering.
- We should advise our children to avoid abruptly entering the water as this can affect their ears. The best thing is to go in little by little so that air doesn’t accumulate inside the ears.
- Devices that reduce humidity, such as air conditioning, tend to irritate the airways, which experts say ends up affecting the ears as well. Therefore, they advise to avoid sudden changes in temperature.
- Pressure changes often affect the ears, especially in people who are more sensitive. When traveling, pressure can cause uncomfortable ear infections. Therefore, it is recommended to stay awake, chewing gum or sucking candy to unclog the ear canal.
- During hot days, it is very important to maintain adequate hydration, as a lack of fluid in the body can cause dizziness or tinnitus.
- Avoid exposure to loud noises
- Be careful not to be exposed to natural or artificial drafts.
- See your doctor immediately for any ear-related discomfort.
