Often, when swimming and, especially, when diving, water gets into the ears. In principle, there is nothing to worry about if it comes out quickly enough. This usually happens on its own and does not even have to specially clean the ear canal. But if water gets in and your ear hurts, what should you do in this case? First, try to get rid of it yourself. In case of failure of such attempts - still consult a doctor.
Causes and consequences
With regular and proper care of the ears and the normal structure of the auricle, water that gets into the ear flows out unhindered. But for some reason, she cannot do this, and then you have to make some efforts to get her out of there. Most often, water is retained in the ear due to:
- structural features of the ear canal, which is too twisted or very narrow;
- the presence of a sulfur plug, which swells when water enters and completely blocks the ear canal;
- the growth of bone tissue inside the auricle, which changes its configuration.
Clean water that gets into the ear does not cause much trouble. It does not even interfere with the eardrum to pick up external sounds.
However, a humid environment is excellent conditions for the active reproduction of pathogenic bacteria, which subsequently becomes the cause of the development of various diseases: otomycosis, purulent otitis media, inflammation of the middle or inner ear, and others. Especially if it is water from polluted open reservoirs, which, moreover, may contain insect larvae and other microorganisms.
Swimmer's ear
Chronic ear diseases are most common among athletes who regularly go in for swimming and diving. An additional factor that activates inflammatory processes is regular hypothermia due to prolonged exposure to water. Therefore, if, after completing the training, water is not immediately removed from the ears, then the risk of earning otitis externa, which has another name - swimmer's ear, is extremely high.
It is very easy to determine the onset of the disease yourself. Its first symptom is that it clicks in the ear, as if water had entered, even if in fact it is no longer there.
If you grasp the earlobe with your fingers and gently pull it down, then a sharp pain will appear. This means that it is necessary to immediately go to the doctor, since the only treatment that quickly eliminates the swimmer's ear is a course of antibiotics, and in case of severe itching, also hydrocortisone ointment. With timely treatment started, the disease goes away very quickly and without consequences.
How to remove water
Therefore, if under any circumstances, especially after swimming in open fresh water, water still gets in and stuck in the ear - what to do, you must try to remove it yourself. Here are some of the easiest ways to get water out of your ear:
- blot the auricle well with a terry towel;
- gently dry the ear canal using several cotton swabs;
jump on one leg, tilting your head to the shoulder towards the stuffed ear;- lie on your side so that the ear with the stuck water is below and lie quietly, giving it the opportunity to flow out;
- drip a few drops of pure medical or boric alcohol into the ear;
- press your palm tightly to your ear, and then tear it off sharply so that the created pressure difference pushes the water out;
- dry the ear by attaching a heated bag of salt to it;
- insert a gauze turundochka into the ear canal, carefully twisting it deep into the ear;
- dry the ear with a hairdryer at medium temperature (if otitis media has already arisen, this should not be done in any case!).
jump on one leg, tilting your head to the shoulder towards the stuffed ear;If the cause of water retention in the ear is a sulfur plug, then you can try to soften it by dropping a solution of hydrogen peroxide into the ear. After 5-10 minutes, you need to carefully clean the ear canal with cotton swabs, step by step cleaning out excess sulfur and water residues.
If after that there is congestion and a feeling of water in the ear, you will have to go to the hospital and do a professional lavage. The procedure is simple and practically painless, so you shouldn't be afraid of it.
Precautionary measures
But it is better not to allow water to get deep inside the ear at all. Moreover, very simple measures can help in this. People prone to otitis media should wear a rubber cap that fits snugly around the ears when bathing. You can cover your ear canal with ear plugs or a regular cotton swab smeared with petroleum jelly. Also in the pharmacy chain today there are soft paraffin plugs that can be easily removed after bathing.
It is especially important to monitor the ingress of water into the ear canal in children. The structure of their auricle is slightly different from that of adults, since the size of the auditory opening does not change during life. This means that in the baby it is too wide and not protected as well by the auricle as in adults. In addition, the child does not always complain of discomfort, and the problem may be revealed even when acute pain occurs.
Therefore, when bathing an infant, his head must be kept above the water at all times so that water does not get into the ears. After water procedures, be sure to dry them with a towel and then clean them with cotton swabs.
Older children should be taught to jump a little after bathing, tilting their heads first to one shoulder, and then to the other. And be sure to explain how important it is to say that there is water left in the ear.
Major diseases
The sensation as if water in the ear can also occur with various ear diseases. Then it will not work to get rid of it using the methods described above. But this symptom should by no means be ignored, hoping that it will go away on its own. It can signal the onset of the inflammatory process and happens when:
- barotrauma of the middle or inner ear;
- complicated purulent otitis media;
- inflammation of the Eustachian tube;
- advanced fungal infection.
Therefore, if you did not swim, did not take a shower or bath, and did not perform any water procedures, but you have a persistent feeling that water is overflowing in your ear, which does not go away within 1-2 days, you should consult an otolaryngologist ...
Very rarely, a feeling as if water in the ear occurs with increased arterial or intracranial pressure. Therefore, if a strange feeling of congestion arose suddenly and without contact with water, then you should start by measuring your blood pressure. It may be enough to take an antihypertensive or vasodilator drug and the problem will disappear.
