Summers are here and we can’t wait to jump into the pool! Swimming is great exercise and an easy-to-pick-up sport. But, like any other sport, swimming comes with its set of health issues and injuries. The most common of them is an ear infection, popularly known as swimmers ear.

How clean the water in a swimming pool is dependent on how well the pool is maintained. Sometimes, the water may look clean, but it may be infected with bacteria. If this water enters your ear and is not cleared out, it provides a perfect moist environment for bacteria to grow. This will lead to an infection.

Here are 5 things you can do prevent built up of infection.

1. Avoid putting earbuds and foreign objects in the ears

While earbuds are mean to clean your ears of earwax, they can sometimes cause more harm than help. Ear wax actually helps protect your ear canal from infection. Putting an earbud or cotton swabs in your ear may actually push is down the ear canal, blocking your ear. Vigorous cleaning of the ear can also harm the ear canal and cause abrasions. This makes it more prone to infections

2. Wear earplugs while swimming

Wearing earplugs can keep water out of the ears while swimming and can help prevent swimmers ear. Just make sure you get earplugs that fit properly and are intended to keep water out of the ear. Also note that there are different ear plugs for different purposes. The soft foam ones are to cancel noise and not effective at keeping water out. Search specifically for for swimming ear plugs.

3. Keep your ears dry and clean

After the swim, its always a good idea to rinse your ear, tilt it and drain any water that may remain. Drying it up with a soft cloth or towel afterwards would prevent the growth of any bacteria.

4. Incase of these symptoms, visit a doctor

You should immediately visit a doctor if you notice any of these symptoms.

1. Severe pain in the ear canal
2. liquid or pus draining out of the ear
3. ringing in the ears
4. dizziness and vertigo