[Health Tip!] "Our Child Who Loves Summer Water Play, Beware of Otitis Externa"

30% of Otitis Externa Patients Concentrate in July-August
Initial Symptom Itching... Severe Cases Show Discharge and Pain
Do Not Scratch Ears When Wearing Earplugs Even If Itchy

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] With the arrival of the full summer vacation and holiday season, more children are enjoying water activities. Along with that, health must be taken care of, and one of the most common illnesses caused by water play is 'otitis externa.' According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, about 1,659,000 patients received treatment for otitis externa last year, and approximately 30% of them, around 516,000, occurred in July and August.

The external auditory canal refers to the area from the entrance of the ear canal to the front of the eardrum. It functions to amplify sound and produce earwax. However, frequent water play causes the ear canal to become moist, creating an environment prone to inflammation and increasing the risk of otitis externa. It is mainly caused by bacterial infection, frequent swimming, humid climate, abnormalities in the external auditory canal, or foreign bodies. Initially, symptoms are limited to itching, but as the condition progresses, discharge from the ear, pain, and a feeling of fullness may accompany it, and in severe cases, it can affect hearing.

If treated properly, otitis externa is mostly curable. The problem arises when treatment is delayed, causing the disease to worsen and develop into chronic otitis externa. Chronic otitis externa causes the skin of the external auditory canal to thicken, narrowing the canal and potentially leading to severe blockage.

Treatment of otitis externa focuses on pain control, inflammation removal, and elimination of secretions and necrotic material inside the ear canal. Pain is relieved using analgesics, and inflammation is reduced with treatments containing antibiotics. A normal external auditory canal is slightly acidic, so cleaning with an acidic solution to remove secretions and necrotic skin caused by otitis externa helps restore the ear canal’s natural defense mechanism.

Above all, prevention is crucial. Children who frequently dive during water play should wear earplugs, and if water enters the ear, they should not use cotton swabs or fingers to dig inside. The skin inside the external auditory canal is thin and directly attached to the bone without fat or muscle, making it easily damaged.

Dr. Shin Dong-joo, an otolaryngology specialist at H Plus Yangji Hospital, advised, “If symptoms suspected of otitis externa such as itching or pain appear after water activities in summer, it is important to visit a hospital promptly for treatment. It is also essential to develop habits to prevent otitis externa regularly. Since hot summer weather and humid conditions are among the causes of otitis externa, it is better not to be complacent just because you did not engage in water activities but to seek medical care if suspicious symptoms arise.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.