A child’s ear hurts at sea or pain appears after swimming in the pool - what to do and how to treat otitis media?

Is it possible to go to the pool if you have otitis media?

Good day!
My name is Khalisat Suleymanova - I am a herbalist. At the age of 28, I cured myself of uterine cancer with herbs (read more about my experience of recovery and why I became a herbalist here: My story). Before being treated using traditional methods described on the Internet, please consult with a specialist and your doctor! This will save your time and money, since the diseases are different, the herbs and treatment methods are different, and there are also concomitant diseases, contraindications, complications, and so on. There is nothing to add yet, but if you need help in selecting herbs and treatment methods, you can find me at my contacts: Telephone: 8

Email: [email protected]

Quite often, when water gets into the ear canals, inflammation occurs. In medical terminology it is also called otitis media. This is a rather unpleasant disease that brings a lot of inconvenience and restrictions. Parents often ask the question: is it possible to go to the pool if you have otitis media? Doctors categorically do not advise visiting such a place if you have this illness. Water treatments can significantly worsen the patient's condition.

First aid for a child

Without a doctor's diagnosis and checking the integrity of the eardrum, it is better to avoid instilling various products into the ears - this can lead to worsening inflammatory processes and even deafness.

Not every parent can bear the tears and pain of a child, so you need to do the following:

Give your child a pain reliever - Paracetamol or Ibuprofen. The ear hurts so much that there is no way to do without it.
Instill vasoconstrictor drops into the nose - this will reduce swelling in the ear and pressure on the eardrum and ear canal.
You can make a dry compress on the ear - close it so that sound vibrations do not cause pain. This will not have a therapeutic effect, but it will slightly alleviate the baby’s condition.
If you suspect an infection, use a children's antiviral drug.

READ ALSO: what to do if a child at 2 years old has an earache?

Bathing when sick

In case of acute symptoms, it is advisable to avoid visiting the pool and performing any water procedures. You can start going to the pool again after otitis media only after the doctor’s permission and all unpleasant symptoms have disappeared. The limitation of such a plan may be due to several factors:

a sharp change in temperature, which may be associated with overheating or hypothermia of the body;
chlorinated water helps wash wax out of the ear, thereby allowing harmful microorganisms to enter there;
water getting into the middle ear can aggravate the process and even cause a relapse.

An adult's ear hurts after swimming, what to do?

Ear pain after diving can be caused by residual water in the ear canals, injuries, infections, fungus, etc. Also, the cause of such problems can be a disease that affects the teeth or the ternary nerve of a person, and then spreads to the ears.

Recommendations for pain management in adult patients are similar to those for children:

use nasal vasoconstrictor drops, for example, Xilenu or Vibrocil;
analgesics, for example, Paracetamol or Ibuprofen, will help pacify lumbago;
in the absence of purulent manifestations, place cotton wool soaked in alcohol;
for non-purulent diseases, drops are prescribed; Otinuma is one of the most effective;
apply warm compresses;
Perform regular ear hygiene procedures using hydrogen peroxide.

Why do my ears hurt after swimming in the sea?

If water gets into your ear and it hurts, you should figure out the reason for what is happening. The usefulness of sea water has been proven by official medicine, but it sometimes becomes the culprit of ear diseases if it is contaminated with pathogens. Also, after frequent and prolonged diving, some experience deafness, a feeling of the presence of a foreign body in the ear canal, hyperthermia, and lumbago.

All this can ruin your vacation, so it is recommended to take care of your ears at the beginning of your vacation by taking a number of preventive measures:

Avoid contact with water, and if this is not possible, use rubber or plastic earplugs during water procedures;
If you don't have earplugs, roll up a cotton ball with your own hands, lubricate it with Vaseline, and use it as a protective agent for your ears.

Methods for getting rid of water accumulated in the ear

If sea water has entered the ear canals, cotton swabs, swallowing exercises, lying on the desired side, and a compress will help clean them at home. Accumulation of water in the middle ear can occur due to incorrect diving technique, as well as due to water entering the nose. This problem can be eliminated with the help of nasal decongestants.

If you cannot cope with the remaining water inside the ear canals on your own, it is important not to neglect the help of a specialist. In a medical facility, there are a number of special devices that help cleanse a person’s ear canals of water and disinfect them from pathogenic microbes.

Protection measures

If an adult has ear pain after swimming, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. Timely adoption of basic measures to protect the body will help prevent such problems:

To avoid problems, it is important to be careful when swimming to prevent water from getting into your ears;
there is no need to show special diligence when cleaning the ear canals from wax, because this is a kind of mechanism for protecting this organ.

When can you resume hiking?

Before making a decision on this matter, you should first consult with your doctor. It is he who must give you permission. Each variety has its own characteristics and recovery time.

If otitis externa is diagnosed, you can start going to the sports complex again within a week and a half. You should try not to submerge your head under water.
If it is purulent, the term increases to 1-2 months.
In case of otitis media with perforation of the eardrum, the period can be extended to 3 months and full restoration of hearing.

Precautionary measures

If the doctor has given you permission that after otitis media you can go to the pool, then you should try to follow some rules that will not lead to a relapse. Here is their list:

Wear a tight-fitting cap that will prevent water from getting into your ears;
It is advisable to use earplugs;
Dry your ears using cotton swabs or a hair dryer.

Remember that following all the recommendations will allow you and your child to enjoy life again.

How to remove water from outer ear?

If jumping on one leg does not help, and water still remains in the ear, then you can try to take a deep breath, hold your breath, then cover your nose with your hand and exhale, trying not to open your mouth or remove your fingers from your nose. In this case, pressure rises in the ear-nose-throat area, which can push fluid through the ear canal, and it will spill out.

If this does not help, try removing the water with cotton wool. Twist a cotton ball out of cotton wool, pull the auricle first up and then back, and place the cotton wool in the ear canal. After 15 minutes, the cotton wool must be removed, during which time it will absorb water.

Another option for extracting water is to lie on your side with the stuffy side down and swallow your saliva several times. In this case, the muscles of the auricle are activated, the tympanic membrane vibrates, and water is pushed out. You can also lie on your back and slowly begin to turn your head towards the ear into which the liquid has entered; in this case, it can flow down the wall and spill out.

There are many reviews about water leaking out of the ear canal after sleeping. This is possible provided that you sleep on one side, then under the influence of gravity the liquid will flow out. But this method is not very comfortable, you won’t be able to get a full night’s sleep, you will have to constantly be careful not to roll over on the other side in your sleep.

You should not dry your child's ear with a hairdryer - this can lead to burns or cause severe dryness in the ear. Instead of a hairdryer, you can make a warming compress, for example, with a heating pad - the heat will cause the water to evaporate.

If you have tried everything, but the pain in your ear does not disappear, and the fluid does not flow out, it means that the earwax is swollen and you cannot remove this plug on your own; you need the help of a doctor. If you do not have the opportunity to go to an ENT specialist, then it is not recommended to remove wax on your own, because you can not only push the wax further inward, but also injure the eardrum or ear canal.

To dissolve the wax plug, you can use special drops or hydrogen peroxide (just warm the pipette with the medicine in your hands, otherwise you may catch a cold in your auditory system). Under the influence of the medicine, the sulfur will soften and come out of the ear canal on its own, followed by water.

Otitis media and swimming pool

Otitis is an ENT disease that causes inflammation in the ears. The important question remains: is it possible for adults and children to swim during the period of illness and in the immediate future after recovery? After all, water getting into the ear canal is alarming. In the article we will consider the possibility of visiting the pool, whether it is advisable to wash during otitis media, and how patients can carry out hygiene procedures.

Why might a child's ear hurt after swimming?

There are several reasons for ear pain:

Water got into my ear. A small child cannot always distinguish and explain what he is experiencing - pain or just discomfort. If a child under 3 years old complains of ears in the first hours after the pool, you just need to help him get rid of the water: play a game by jumping on 1 leg with his head tilted to the side. If the baby is very small, insert a cotton pad into the ear, which will “attract” moisture.
Perforation. This is especially true for children over 3 years old. Actively swimming and carelessly jumping into the water can damage the membrane.
Infected fluid that gets into the ears while swimming. Staphylococcal bacilli, viruses - any of these reasons can lead to serious consequences and long-term treatment for otitis after sea.
Hypothermia when swimming, leading to inflammation in the ears.

If the ear pain does not go away within 24 hours, the child should be seen by an ENT specialist.

Is it possible to go to a bathhouse or sauna if you have otitis?

Poor hearing, discharge from the ears, pain, fever, inflammation - these symptoms indicate the presence of a disease called otitis media. The patient will not want to get into the water at this time. ENT doctors inform patients that in acute forms of otitis all kinds of water procedures are prohibited.

Prohibited water procedures

Treatment of otitis involves limiting water procedures. In the first three days you should not take a shower or wash your hair at all. Subsequently, bathing can be resumed, but this should be done with caution. Other water treatments that should be excluded;

swimming in the pool;
visiting a sauna or bath;
swimming in the sea, river or lake.

Despite the fact that sea air has a beneficial effect on the body, salt water only irritates the sore ear. Plus, the water may contain dirt and algae particles. It is impossible to avoid getting sea water into your ear.

No less dangerous, even for a healthy person, is swimming in a river or lake. It is very easy to catch an infection in fresh water, because various wastes and chemicals are often poured into water bodies. It is advisable to swim only in clean waters.

Visiting the sauna.

Visiting the sauna and bathhouse

Visiting the sauna and steam room is prohibited. If there is inflammation in the ear, even slight heating contributes to the following consequences:

Reproduction of microbes, resulting in pus formation.
Cell expansion is influenced by temperature. Ear pus moves and blocks the passage of the Eustachian tube.
When exposed to elevated temperatures, our cells expand.
Increased symptoms of the disease.

The result is an unstable course of the disease. The worst case is worsening of the disease. For these reasons, doctors prohibit visits to baths and saunas.

Swimming in indoor or outdoor pools is one of the causes of otitis media.

The auditory system consists of two passages - the eustachian and auditory, they are separated by the eardrum. This structure ensures uniform air pressure on both sides of the membrane.

The ear system does not work properly when suddenly immersed in water or diving. At such moments, “the ears are blocked.” We experience the same feelings when an airplane takes off. In a healthy person, this process does not cause discomfort. Otherwise, if a person has chronic sinusitis or a runny nose, the viruses move into the Eustachian tube. The ideal environment for microbes to live and reproduce is when they enter the middle ear by diving.

The above methods are effective if certain factors coincide. This is a rare case. At risk are children, people who have chronic otitis media and are prone to ear inflammation.

So, going to the pool after otitis is not recommended.

Why not all ear pain is otitis media

Typically, any pain in the ears is called otitis media. But otitis is an inflammation of the middle ear. But your ear can hurt for other reasons.

The ear consists of three parts - outer, middle and inner. We see the outside, we can touch it and even see the ear canal. The inner ear is the “cochlea” (the organ of hearing itself). The middle ear is a cavity containing the auditory ossicles. This cavity is connected to the nasopharynx by the Eustachian tube. The eardrum separates the middle ear from the outer ear.

We only see the outer ear. Website gorlonos.com

For the ear to function properly, the pressure on both sides of the membrane must be equal. Then the membrane stands straight and the person does not feel discomfort.

If a person begins to experience swelling in the nasopharynx - for example, he begins to get sick and the mucous membrane secretes secretions to fight the infection, or an allergy attack occurs, the passage of the Eustachian tube narrows and the connection between the middle ear cavity and atmospheric air is lost. Thus, the pressure on the membrane on both sides becomes different and the eardrum stretches. It is richly supplied with pain receptors, so it begins to hurt (like on an airplane). In children, the Eustachian tube is shorter and narrower than in adults, so a small amount of swelling is enough for the membrane to stretch. Even if a child complains of ear pain, it may not be otitis media, but a consequence of edema, lymphadenitis, or even symptoms of mumps.

Bathing for otitis, recommendations from doctors for children and adults

It is difficult to answer the question: Is it possible to swim with otitis media? But basically the answer is no.

Water is a dangerous element and can get into your ear even if you are passive. For example, being at sea, in any case there is a strong wind on the coast, which favorably accompanies the process. When leaving the water, you can get sick again or worsen otitis media.

At the entrance to the pool there must be a sign indicating the results of the water quality test. Clean water is the key to health. If you doubt the quality of the tests performed or they are unclear to you, contact the staff, because health comes first.

During the swimming period, you need to wear a rubber cap; it will protect your ears from water penetration; earplugs will not be superfluous; it is not recommended to stay under water for a long time.
After bathing and while taking a shower, it is necessary to monitor the child so that water does not get into the ear and damage the eardrum.
After taking a shower, carefully dry your ears with cotton swabs, paying attention to the auricle and the entrance to the auditory tube.
Blow the water coming out of your nose. We clear the water from the nose with dry nasal sticks.
When suffering from purulent otitis, swimming is risky, but if you cover your ear with cotton wool, then you can.
Children are prohibited from diving into water that is more than one meter deep. Depth contributes to pressure on the eardrum.

The main tip for protecting against otitis media in the pool is to increase your immunity. At the first signs of illness, do not hesitate, consult an ENT doctor. Timely treatment will help prevent complications, and the disease will pass without serious consequences.

Don’t forget to take care of your body, because our health depends on it. Swimming can take care of the physical condition of the body and improve the emotional background.

How to avoid otitis media or help your child with ear pain

Use cotton swabs instead of plugs (wax, silicone or thermoplastic). Plugs and earplugs are not used for small children. They disrupt the natural microflora of the ear and can cause pain to the child.

Buy a latex hat instead of a cloth one. A good hat fits your head tightly and prevents water from flowing into your ears. But pool coaches often ask to open the ears while wearing latex caps so that the child can hear better. Therefore, consult a trainer before you buy.

Place disposable tissues on the edge of the side. Help your child blow his nose if his nose is running. If there is no mucus in the nasopharynx, the pressure on the membrane will not increase.

Place vasoconstrictor drops into the ear and nose . If your ear hurts, drop 2-3 drops of a vasoconstrictor into the nostril on which the ear hurts. If the pain is caused by swelling, the drops will relieve it and normalize the pressure on the membrane.

Bathing with otitis media

During the acute course of the disease, doctors advise refraining from visiting the pool, as well as minimizing all other water procedures. This is due to the fact that:

during illness, hypothermia and overheating of the body, as well as sudden temperature changes, should not be allowed; the best option for the child would be a short warm shower;
water, especially chlorinated water, causes the leaching of earwax, which protects the ear canal from harmful bacteria;
water entering the ear canal with further penetration into the middle ear area can cause complications and relapse of the disease, especially if the disease occurs with perforation of the eardrum.

In addition to swimming in the pool, there are other restrictions: if a child has developed purulent otitis media, he is not recommended to visit the sauna or any other room with high temperature and humidity. Yes, for this disease, heat treatment is recommended, but the heat should be dry (physiotherapy in a medical facility or at home on the recommendation of a doctor is suitable).

If you have any type of ear inflammation, diving is strictly prohibited. Moreover, the ban persists not only during illness, but also for two to three months after recovery, when it is already possible to go to the pool with otitis media (it is considered to pass). Diving causes water to enter the middle ear, which leads to much more serious consequences than otitis media.

Water in the outer ear

Water from the pool can end up in both the outer and middle ear. If water can be removed from the outer ear without much effort, then if liquid gets into the middle part of the ear, the situation is much more serious and requires urgent action.

Water enters the outer ear after swimming, diving, or visiting the pool. This happens if a person did not take care of protecting his ears, did not put on a special cap, or at least did not insert earplugs into his ears (as earplugs are called), which prevent contact with water.

Usually, water flows out of the ear canal on its own; it is enough for a person to tilt the affected ear down. But sometimes, due to the ear canal being too narrow or the structure of the auricle, the fluid is unable to leave the ear on its own and stagnates.

Sometimes earwax swells, further reducing the chances of water leaving the ear on its own. As a result, an inflammatory process known as otitis externa begins in the ear canal, and to get rid of it, consultation with a doctor and appropriate treatment are necessary.

To prevent the development of the disease, it is very important to pay attention to the symptoms that appear after visiting the pool, swimming or diving:

feeling of stuffiness in one ear,
distorted perception of sound, including one’s own voice,
sensation of shimmering water in the ear canal.

If you ignore these signs after swimming in the pool and do not take timely measures to rid your ear of water, headaches and nausea will appear after a while. With the development of inflammatory processes, the temperature rises, hearing deteriorates, and you cannot do without the help of a doctor.

When can you go to the pool after otitis?

When the disease recedes and there are no longer visible manifestations, the question arises: naturally, during illness you should not take risks, but when can you resume visiting the pool after otitis, because in general the pool has a good effect on your health?

If otitis externa has been diagnosed, you can return to activities after 10-14 days, while taking the necessary precautions and not diving headlong into water. In case of purulent otitis media, you should wait 1-2 months before returning to the water element. In case of otitis media with perforation of the eardrum, the doctor may prohibit visiting the pool for up to three months, until the hearing organs are completely restored.

In any case, it is recommended to ask the ENT about this if in doubt.

To avoid new inflammations, you must follow a few simple rules:

wear a cap that tightly covers your ears and prevents drops of moisture from entering, which can cause illness;
use earplugs: in pharmacies you can find many options from a variety of materials, for both adults and children;
Dry your ears after swimming: gently wipe with cotton wool or turn on the hairdryer for half a minute (temperature “cold” or “warm”), holding the device at a distance of 40-50 cm from the ear.

What to do if your ears hurt after swimming

all articles Ear pain can be caused not by water, but by infection.

As a rule, a patient, even with quite severe pain in the ear after swimming, is in no hurry to see a doctor, believing that the ear hurts from water that has entered it, and as soon as this water flows out, the ear will go away on its own. This is a mistake: ear pain can be caused not by water, but by infection.

After swimming in the pool, ear pain is not uncommon. If we exclude purely mechanical causes of this phenomenon - the pressure of water that has penetrated into the external auditory canal, onto the eardrum, or the pressure drop in the ear during diving, the most common cause of ear pain after swimming is an infection that has penetrated into the ear with water. Moreover, the situation is aggravated by local hypothermia, which is likely when swimming. Otorhinolaryngologists even have a special term - “swimmer's ear” - to refer to chronic inflammation of the external auditory canal due to prolonged and frequent exposure to water. Moreover, as a rule, a patient, even with quite severe pain in the ear after swimming, is usually in no hurry to see a doctor, believing that the ear hurts from water that has entered it, and as soon as this water flows out, the ear will go away on its own. This is an erroneous stereotype: without knowing the true causes of pain, you can lead the situation to advanced purulent otitis, and with it - to hearing loss.

Otitis media or “water in the ear”?

Ear pain after swimming is usually accompanied by a feeling of fullness in one or both ears. It is often accompanied by an unpleasant sensation of water flowing inside the ear canal. Of course, water that gets into the ear should be removed if possible. To do this, you can lie on your side on the side of the “affected” ear and make several swallowing movements or jump on one leg on the side of the “affected” ear, tilting your head to your shoulder on the same side. The vibration and contraction of the ear canal muscles will push out any water that has accumulated in the ear. You can also try to remove moisture from the ear with a soft cotton wool. If the water flows out, but the feeling of stuffiness does not go away, most likely, the water has soaked the accumulated wax in the ear. You cannot remove the sulfur plug yourself - this is done by an ENT doctor with a special tool. If pain in the ear persists after the water has been removed, its cause is likely due to an infection in the ear. Most often, acute external otitis media develops after swimming, which is natural - pathogenic microorganisms often begin to multiply in the place most accessible to them, on the skin of the external auditory canal, where they enter unhindered. However, the possibility of infection entering the middle ear through the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear cavity to the pharynx, cannot be ruled out.

If ear pain persists after the water has been removed, it is likely due to an infection in the ear. Most often, acute external otitis develops after swimming, but the possibility of developing acute otitis media cannot be excluded due to infection entering the middle ear, through the Eustachian tube connecting the middle ear cavity to the pharynx.

What is swimmer's ear?

“Swimmer’s ear” refers exclusively to chronic external otitis media that occurs as a result of frequent and prolonged exposure to water on the skin of the ear canal. It should be distinguished from acute otitis media, which occurs after a single exposure to water and pathogenic microorganisms in the ear.

With “swimmer’s ear,” the role is played not only by infection, but also by the exposure of the skin to water, often containing large amounts of chlorine. Such water irritates the skin, loosens its surface layer, which in itself leads to inflammation. The situation is aggravated by the fact that water washes away sulfur from the surface of the ear canal - a secretion of glands necessary to maintain healthy skin and protect it. Roughly wiping the ears with a towel contributes to the appearance of microdamages on the skin, which become entry points for pathogens. “Swimmer’s ear” manifests itself as severe itching, peeling and redness of the skin of the ear canal and even the auricle. When an infection occurs, pain, a feeling of congestion, and hearing loss begin to bother you.

Treatment of otitis after swimming pool

If water is removed from the ear, but it continues to hurt, you should consult a doctor - there is a high probability that otitis media has developed, and the sooner treatment measures are started, the more effective they will be, and the less likely the complications will be. As part of the complex treatment of otitis after visiting the pool, the drug Otinum, which has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, as well as an antibacterial and antifungal effect, has proven itself well. Otinum does not contain antibiotics or hormones and does not cause allergies or resistance.

Ear pain after visiting the pool bothers many people and is often caused by an infection in the ear and subsequent inflammation. Timely treatment, started from the first symptoms of the disease, will quickly eliminate unpleasant symptoms and prevent the development of dangerous complications.

What Doctor Komarovsky says

Dr. E. O. Komarovsky, a famous pediatrician, is confident that a child can go swimming even if from time to time he has ENT diseases. Those children who swam from birth develop more harmoniously both physically and emotionally, strengthen their immunity and acquire valuable skills. To see which children most often suffer from ear infections, watch the video:

Of course, after otitis media you should not rush to the pool, but after a week or two you can resume classes by filling your ear with cotton wool and wearing a high-quality cap. It is important to visit a swimming pool where all sanitary standards are met, and also to use protective equipment to prevent recurrence of the disease.

Sources:

https://zdravoline.info/mozhno-li-xodit-v-bassejn-pri-otite/ https://yhogorlonos.com/otit-i-bassejn/ https://nosuho.ru/uho/otit/bassejn

Causes

Our hearing organ is not naturally accustomed to the constant presence of water. When swimming or diving, it slips into the outer ear, literally overflowing it.

If the fluid is not removed immediately, it may end up in the middle ear, and this is fraught with serious consequences, including hearing loss.

Fungus

The fact is that when water stagnates, it irritates the ear canals, causing damage to the skin, and bacteria and fungi immediately rush into this weak link, inflaming it. They pose the greatest danger, as they provoke otomycosis.

If the liquid leaks out immediately, these microorganisms will not have time to cause harm. The danger of fungi and bacteria entering is much greater in open water bodies.

Sulfur plug

Additional problems can be caused by wax plugs. This is a buildup of wax that blocks the ear canal.

Many people try to fight wax plugs with cotton swabs, but this should never be done! This will only compact the sulfur and push it even deeper - this will only intensify the pain.

It is better to use vegetable oil heated to 35-37 degrees - by dripping it and lying on the opposite side for a quarter of an hour, you will allow the oil to soften the sulfur. Then you should turn down with your affected ear, allowing the mixture to be safely removed.

But the best option is to see a doctor. By rinsing your ear with a syringe with warm water or a solution of furatsilin, he will easily and painlessly solve your problem, first making sure that the membrane is not damaged.

How to get rid of a plug in your ear, watch our video:

Otitis

It is these reasons that cause an extremely unpleasant disease - otitis externa, called “swimmer’s ear” by otolaryngologists. In addition to microorganisms, this disease can also be triggered by a large temperature difference between water and air.

Other reasons

Minor injuries to the skin of the ear canal can also contribute to the penetration of infection. Other risk factors include a lack of earwax, chronic diseases that reduce immunity, and a deficiency of vitamins in the body.