Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
07:06
Endaural Endoscopic Atticoantrotomy (Retrograde Mastoidectomy) using a Constant Suction Bone-drilling Technique
Published on: May 23, 2021
Water related otitis externa
Milodar Kujundzić1, Tamara Braut, Dubravko Manestar
1University of Rijeka, Rijeka University Hospital Center, Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Rijeka, Croatia.
Collegium Antropologicum
|December 11, 2012
Summary
Frequent exposure to water increases the risk of swimmer's ear (otitis externa). Water sport athletes face a higher risk than football players, especially those exposed for longer durations.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Dermatology
- Public Health
Background:
- Water exposure is a known risk factor for external auditory canal inflammation, commonly known as swimmer's ear.
- Factors influencing risk include duration of water contact, water type, and pollution levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the risk of developing ear inflammation among individuals with varying degrees of swimming pool water exposure.
- To identify specific water sports associated with increased risk.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case-control analysis conducted at an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) clinic.
- Comparison of risk between swimmers, water polo players, and football players exposed to chlorinated swimming pool water.
Main Results:
- Water sport participants (swimmers, water polo players) exhibited a significantly higher risk of ear inflammation compared to football players.
- Individuals older than 13 engaged in swimming or water polo were at increased risk.
- Swimmers showed a higher risk than football players and water polo players, though no difference was found between swimmers and water polo players.
- Frequent and prolonged water exposure was confirmed as a significant risk factor.
Conclusions:
- Participation in water sports, particularly swimming and water polo, elevates the risk of external auditory canal inflammation.
- Age and duration of water exposure are critical determinants in the risk of developing swimmer's ear.
- Public health recommendations should emphasize limiting water exposure duration, especially in chlorinated pools, to mitigate risks.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:16Anatomy of the Ear
Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...
01:13The Cochlea
The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.
01:29Disorder of Water Balance
Water balance disorders are medical conditions that occur when there is a deviation from the body's water volume or osmolarity, disrupting normal homeostasis and leading todehydration, hypotonic hydration, hyperhydration, edema, or water intoxication.
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when the body loses fluids (particularly water).
Causes:
The major causes of dehydration include excessive sweating, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and diuresis.
Signs and Symptoms:
Symptoms primarily include intense...
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when the body loses fluids (particularly water).
Causes:
The major causes of dehydration include excessive sweating, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and diuresis.
Signs and Symptoms:
Symptoms primarily include intense...
01:11The Auditory Ossicles
The auditory ossicles of the middle ear transmit sounds from the air as vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlea. The auditory ossicles consist of two malleus (hammer) bones, two incus (anvil) bones, and two stapes (stirrups), one on each side. These bones develop during the fetal stage and are the ones to ossify first. They are fully mature at birth and do not grow afterward.
The aptly named stapes look very much like a stirrup. The three ossicles are unique to mammals, and each plays a role in...
The aptly named stapes look very much like a stirrup. The three ossicles are unique to mammals, and each plays a role in...
02:32Osmoregulation in Fishes
When cells are placed in a hypotonic (low-salt) fluid, they can swell and burst. Meanwhile, cells in a hypertonic solution—with a higher salt concentration—can shrivel and die. How do fish cells avoid these gruesome fates in hypotonic freshwater or hypertonic seawater environments?
01:25Cholera
Cholera is an acute gastrointestinal disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is transmitted primarily via the fecal-oral route through the ingestion of contaminated water or food.Vibrio cholerae is a motile, Gram-negative bacterium of the family Vibrionaceae, primarily associated with waterborne outbreaks in areas with inadequate sanitation. Although over 200 serogroups of V. cholerae exist, only O1 and O139 are responsible for epidemic cholera. The O1 serogroup,...