Ear Nose Throat specialist warned: “External ear infections increase in summer as more people go to the sea and pool”
Acıbadem Ankara Hospital Ear, Nose, Nose and Throat Specialist Dr. Mecit Sancak pointed out that bacteria and fungi can easily reproduce in the ear and emphasized that external ear infections increase in the months when sea and pool activities are intense.
Acıbadem Ankara Hospital Ear Nose and Throat Specialist Dr. Mecit Sancak made explanations about external ear infections that increase in the summer months. Sancak said that external ear infections are more common in the summer months when sea and pool activities are intense.
Pointing out that external ear canal inflammation is more common due to the bacteria found in sea and pool water, and that it is more common in regions where the weather is hot and humidity is high, Dr. Sancak said, “External ear infections, as well as bacteria and viruses; It can also occur due to fungi and can manifest itself with severe pain in the patient, decreased hearing due to narrowing of the external auditory canal, ear discharge and sometimes fever. These conditions negatively affect the quality of life of the person.”
“Fungi and bacteria can cause infection”
Stating that the external ear canal is normally self-cleaning, Dr. Sancak said, “However, since it is a hot, dark and humid area, bacteria and fungi can easily reproduce and infection can occur in the external ear canal. For example, the excessive amount of water entering the ear canal while bathing or in the pool prepares a suitable environment for microbes, especially fungi, to settle in this area as a result of wetness. Add to this the fact that the pool or sea is dirty, and the growth of bacteria and fungi in the external ear canal becomes inevitable. In addition, when the ear is mixed with hard objects such as fingers and cotton-tipped sticks, microbes can enter through very small cracks in the skin of the ear canal and cause infection.”
Giving information about the precautions that can be taken against external auditory canal infection, Dr. Sancak emphasized that hard objects such as cotton-tipped ear sticks and fingers should not be inserted into the ear, even if they intend to clean it. Using waterproof ear plugs in the pool and sea; If the infection recurs frequently, it is necessary to prevent water from entering the ears by using a cap while swimming.
“Dry your ears from the outside, not from the inside”
Underlining that the ear canal should dry after exposure to water, Dr. Sancak said, “After swimming or taking a shower, try to move your head and auricles to let the water flow out. Then dry your ears from the outside with a clean and dry cotton or towel without putting anything inside. Drying the ear canal with a hair dryer is also an effective way. Dry your ear by holding the hair dryer on low setting and 30 centimeters away,” he said.
“The main symptoms are itching, throbbing and blockage”
Listing the symptoms of external auditory canal inflammation as “itching, throbbing pain, blockage, discharge”, Dr. Sancak emphasized that these symptoms are sometimes accompanied by fever, ear pain spreads to the neck and around the eyes, movements in which the ear moves such as chewing and pressing on the cartilage protrusion just in front of the ear canal can lead to increased pain.
He added that in addition to itching in the outer ear, symptoms such as yellow, yellow-green and foul-smelling discharge, severe pain and congestion can be seen.
Stating that the symptoms of external otitis vary according to the severity of the infection, Dr. Sancak said that in mild infection there is itching, redness and pain, while in moderate infection these complaints increase, the ear is blocked and there is difficulty in hearing; In severe infection, pain spreads to the face and neck, even food cannot be eaten due to pain, the discharge becomes foul-smelling and fever is seen.
“The first step in treatment is to stop contact with water”
Pointing out that the treatment of external auditory canal infection aims to protect the integrity of the external auditory canal by eliminating the infection, Dr. Sancak said, “It is important to keep the ear dry in the treatment of external otitis media. Stopping contact with water, cleaning and aspirating the dirt inside the ear, dripping ear drops and antibiotics directly into the infection area with local treatment are important steps in the treatment of external otitis media. Anti-inflammatory treatment and systemic antibiotics that relieve pain and edema can also be added to the treatment.”
“It is not a contagious disease”
Referring to the fact that external otitis media is not contagious, Dr. Sancak stated that there is no problem in socializing if the patient feels well. However, he added that those with external otitis media should protect their ears while bathing, use ear plugs to prevent water from entering the ear canal during bathing, and dry the ear thoroughly after bathing so that it does not remain moist. Explaining that treatment is usually responded to within a week to 10 days, Dr. Sancak said that if external auditory canal infections are intervened early, there will be less pain and the infection will not spread to other areas.
