San José, Costa Rica. Enero, 2016.

Jenny and her 5-year-old son Mario enjoy their holidays at the beach on the Pacific, playing with sand and swimming in the pool. Two nights later, Mario wakes up crying and he tells his mother that he has a very severe earache. Jenny, worried, asks herself if her son´s pain could have something to do with the swimming-pool water.

She was right. Mario presented an inflammation in the ear. It is known as external otitis and it is popularly called swimmer otitis.

People who suffer from an external otitis have swam or remained under water for prolonged periods, according to Dr. Karla Carballo Guevara, General Physician of the Clínica Bíblica Hospital: “If there is a lot of humidity in the ear, it can get irritated, opening the skin of the canal and allowing the entry of bacteria or fungi.”

Dr. Carballo stated the importance of being alert before the following symptoms:

• Earache,
• Inflammation or swelling of the ear canal
• Exit of fluids through the ear canal
• Fever
• Cough
• Hearing problems

“The general population may suffer from otitis, but mainly it is the children who are more exposed because their ear development is incomplete,” said Dr. Carballo.

It is better to prevent and:

• Use a cap when swimming in a pool.
• Use earplugs.
• Do not introduce objects into the ear canal.
• Dry the ears gently with a cloth when you finish your routine.

In case of suffering any of the symptoms, it is important to seek medical assistance immediately, do not self-medicate and avoid home remedies that could cause complications.

In order to obtain further information or to request an appointment in any of the medical specialties with the best doctors of Costa Rica, please contact the private hospital Clínica Bíblica at telephone number 2522-1000, at email citas@clinicabiblica.com or vía chat on the website www.clinicabiblica.com