Chlorine and other chemicals used in pool water can disrupt the natural balance of the outer ear canal, creating conditions that allow infections to develop. Moisture remaining in the ear after swimming further facilitates the growth of bacteria and fungi, leading to outer ear canal infections.
Op. Dr. Akif Sinan Bilgen, an Ear Nose and Throat Diseases Specialist at Medipol University Pendik Hospital in Pendik, Turkey, stated that these infections are observed more frequently during the summer months.
The cause of infections after the pool is often not that the pool is dirty.
Ear, Nose, and Throat specialists note that the process involves the disruption of the ear's natural defenses. The initial symptom of an outer ear canal infection is typically itching, which can progress to a feeling of fullness, pain, and discharge.
In advanced cases, the pain can be severe enough to wake patients from sleep, and the ear canal may narrow.
Prevention and ear care
To prevent infections after swimming, it is recommended to tilt the head to the left and right to drain water. Following this, using a hair dryer on low heat from a distance of approximately 25-30 centimeters can help dry the ear area.
Medical experts do not recommend using cotton swabs for ear cleaning. Such tools can remove the natural protective layer of the ear canal and cause micro-traumas that increase the risk of infection.
Individuals with an ear tube or a perforated eardrum should take extra precautions, such as using swim caps and silicone or waxy earplugs when swimming in the sea or pools.
