Jae-hee went on a vacation to the valley with her family last week. My ears have been tickling for a..

Osteitis is mainly caused by bacterial infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are considered representative causative bacteria. Sometimes skin diseases such as psoriasis, mold, and allergies also cause ear inflammation.

My ears get wet after playing in the water. At this time, the earwax’s function to protect the ears weakens, which can easily cause inflammation. In particular, natural water such as valley water and river water is highly likely to be contaminated, so there is a high possibility of otorrhea. Seawater has a lower risk of infection than natural water due to the sterilization of salt, but if salt remains in the ears, the skin becomes dry and inflammation occurs. The swimming pool is relatively safe because it is disinfected with chlorine, but it is also not safe where water quality management is insufficient.

If you have itching, go to the hospital right away

If you have otorrhea, itching and pain appear in the beginning. In particular, the pain gets worse when you touch or pull the auricles. When the inflammation gets worse, pus or yellow secretions flow out, and there is also a feeling of heat and extreme pain. It can also be accompanied by a feeling of pressure in the ears or a temporary hearing loss.

If the ear canal inflammation is not treated in the early stages, it can spread to the eardrum. Pain and hearing loss are severe, and there is a high risk of conjunctivitis or external ear abscess. Park Jung-mi, a professor of otolaryngology at Gangneung Asan Hospital, explained, “People with reduced immunity or chronic diseases can lead to malignant ear canal inflammation, which is life-threatening and requires long-term hospitalization.”

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If you suspect otorrhea, check the condition accurately with the ear canal or endoscopic vision that can look into your ears. A secretion test is also required for the analysis of causative bacteria. Medication is performed when diagnosed with ear canal inflammation. You can also use mucus containing antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs or painkillers taken using ointments. In particular, the ear is a difficult area to apply or disinfect on its own, so you should visit the hospital regularly while you have symptoms.

Don’t force your ears

Efforts to protect your ears’ health are important when playing in the water. If you have water in your ears, tilt your head down and shake lightly. Water dries naturally, so you should refrain from pressing your ears with your palm or putting a cotton swab deep. This is because it damages the eardrums and irritates the skin. If you want to dry the water in your ears quickly, it’s better to put the dryer at a distance of 30 cm and breathe in the cold wind for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Wearing waterproof earplugs or swimming caps is also helpful when swimming. It’s better not to force remove earwax in normal times. Appropriate earwax acts as sterilization, moisturization, and protection of ears. If it’s too much, it’s naturally pushed out.

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After playing in the water, you should not pass on the symptoms of itchy or uncomfortable ears, saying, “It will get better over time.” Professor Park advised, “If you have any abnormal symptoms, you must visit an ear, nose and throat department for accurate treatment,” adding, “If you have had otitis media before, it is good to use preventive drugs regularly after consulting with a specialist.” He added, “If the ear canal is narrow or there is perforation of the eardrum, people who use earphones for a long time and people with chronic skin diseases should pay special attention to the health care of their ears in the summer even if they do not have symptoms.” Kim Bo-ram, reporter for Maekyung Health.

This is an article in the youth economic newspaper ‘Teen Maeil Economy’. If you are a subscriber of Maeil Business Newspaper, you can get the Teen Maeil Economy free of charge (02-2000-2000).