Can you swim with otitis media?

Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
Updated on August 31, 2024
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Patients with otitis media should not swim, whether it is acute or chronic otitis media. This is because water can enter the ear during swimming. Once dirty water enters the ear, especially in cases of chronic otitis media, it can lead to an acute episode of chronic otitis media. Many patients with chronic otitis media have a perforated eardrum. Without the protection of the eardrum, dirty water can directly enter the middle ear, causing an acute episode of otitis media. This can result in suppuration, ear discharge, and further deep infections, such as infections reaching the deep bone tissue of the mastoid, which requires a long time to treat and might even necessitate surgical intervention. If it is the acute phase of otitis media, the entry of water can irritate the eardrum or cause the pus in the middle ear to worsen, further hindering recovery and exacerbating the condition.

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
53sec home-news-image

Can you swim with otitis media?

Patients with otitis media should not swim, whether it is acute or chronic otitis media. This is because water can enter the ear during swimming. Once dirty water enters the ear, especially in cases of chronic otitis media, it can lead to an acute episode of chronic otitis media. Many patients with chronic otitis media have a perforated eardrum. Without the protection of the eardrum, dirty water can directly enter the middle ear, causing an acute episode of otitis media. This can result in suppuration, ear discharge, and further deep infections, such as infections reaching the deep bone tissue of the mastoid, which requires a long time to treat and might even necessitate surgical intervention. If it is the acute phase of otitis media, the entry of water can irritate the eardrum or cause the pus in the middle ear to worsen, further hindering recovery and exacerbating the condition.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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How to relieve pain from acute otitis media?

Acute otitis media commonly leads to pain, and it can also cause feelings of ear blockage, decreased hearing, and secretions in the ear canal. If the pain is significant, it is primarily considered to be caused by acute infection and inflammation. Initial treatment involves timely anti-infection therapy, predominantly with antibiotics, taken orally. If the inflammation is severe, infusion therapy may be necessary, and ear drops can also be considered. If, after anti-infection treatment, the pain still hasn't significantly relieved, painkillers can be considered. Generally, the treatment period is about a week, and regular follow-up checks with an otoscope and maintaining dryness in the outer ear canal are necessary. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor based on specific conditions.)

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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Symptoms of Otitis Media Recovery

Otitis media is a common and frequently occurring disease in otolaryngology, which is divided into various types such as acute otitis media, chronic otitis media, and cholesteatoma otitis media. Acute otitis media is often seen in cases of colds or coughs. Patients primarily present with pain and pus discharge from the middle ear. Treatment under the guidance of a physician may include the use of antibiotics and corticosteroids. Additionally, during a cold, it is advisable to avoid forceful nose blowing to prevent retrograde infection to the middle ear. For patients with chronic cholesteatoma otitis media, treatment usually requires radical mastoidectomy to remove the lesion and granulation tissue in the middle ear, thereby restoring the normal physiological environment of the middle ear. Repairing the perforated eardrum can also achieve a cure.

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Written by Cheng Fu Wei
Otolaryngology
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What are the symptoms of otitis media?

Otitis media comes in several types, with most cases of acute otitis media involving ear pain, typically throbbing or stabbing pain, followed by decreased hearing, or tinnitus. There may also be ear discharge or pus; using a cotton swab, one might notice an unusual smell from the ear secretions. Systemic symptoms such as fever and chills are less common, with the primary symptoms being localized, mainly consisting of ear pain, reduced hearing, and discharge.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Does otitis media require hospitalization?

Otitis media refers to the acute or chronic inflammatory disease of our middle ear, mainly caused by bacterial infection. For otitis media, whether it is acute or chronic, hospitalization is rarely considered. The vast majority of treatments do not require hospitalization; treatment typically involves outpatient anti-infection therapy. However, if complications arise in otitis media, such as tympanic membrane perforation, disruption of the ossicular chain in the middle ear, granulation in the mastoid cavity, or cholesteatoma, then hospitalization and surgical treatment are considered. The purpose of surgery is mainly to repair structures and clear pathological tissues. In summary, for otitis media, hospitalization for surgical treatment is considered only when necessary; otherwise, inpatient treatment is not required for medical treatment.