Take any ear problems so, so seriously.
I am effectively deaf in one ear - happened when I was a 8/9 years old maybe, ear drum burst one evening and then the problems escalated over the years - perforations, cholesteatoma, bone eroisions etc... We think it was caused by many infections over time picked up swimming. About 12 operations and 20 odd years later, I'm still plagued with ear infections every 5-6 months, it is not worth risking the health of your ears. Balance is also not the best.