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A Viral Ear Infection in the USA

How we helped when this nomad's ear rapidly swelled

My ear began to hurt and started to swell rapidly due to an infection. The infection/swelling started to spread down my neck (in a space of 24 hours). I went to a pharmacy to see if there were any over the counter anti-biotics, but the pharmicists were alarmed at my condition & took me to the hospital. The concern was due to the proximity of the swelling to my head, lymphatic system & major blood vessels. The infection could have easily spread to other parts of my body, including my brain. The doctor examined me and administered medication to stop the viral infection from spreading.

We cover 200+ activities you love + more

Snow

Water

Air

Land

Sports

Experiences

Scuba diving
Mountain biking
Surfing
Bungee jumping
Skiing

Snow Activities
- Included for all
  Curling Glacier walking - ice walking Ice skating – indoor Sleigh rides - horse drawn
- Optional extras
  Skiing / Snowboarding (in resort) Cross country skiing Heli or Cat Skiing / Snowboarding Skiing / Snowboarding(Terrain Park) Sledding Snow Biking Snowmobiling

Water Activities
- Included for all
  Banana boat rides High diving (up to 10m) Hydro foiling Jet boating Kite surfing Outrigger canoeing (inland / coastal waters) Rowing / sculling Sailing / yachting Sea canoeing (inland / coastal waters, grades 1-3) Snorkelling Speed boating (inland / coastal waters) Stand up paddle surfing Surf boat rowing Surfing Swimming pool Swimming with whales Tubing on rivers Water polo Water skiing / wakeboarding Windsurfing / sail boarding - inland or coastal waters
- Optional extras
  Black water rafting Cave diving / Cavern diving Fishing / angling Free diving (up to 50 metres) Jet skiing (inland / coastal waters, grades 1-2) Kite boarding Parasailing / parascending Riverboarding / hydro speeding (grades 1-3) Scuba diving (to 50 metres) Shark cage diving (to 50 metres) Spearfishing Water skiing - barefoot White water rafting

Air Activities
- Included for all
  Aerial safari Bungee / bungy jumping Canyon swing Fly by wire Hot air ballooning Zip line
- Optional extras
  Abseiling Parachuting / Parasailing / Parascending Skydiving / tandem skydiving

Land Activities
- Included for all
  Aerobics Air guitar Backpacking up to 4,500 metres Ballet Bowling Bushcraft up to 4,500 metres Bushwalking up to 4,500 metres Camel riding or trekking overnight Camping up to 4,500 metres Caving / spelunking - sightseeing Cycling / mountain biking (up to 6,000 metres) Dance Dirt boarding Dogsledding Dune buggy Fell running / fell walking up to 4,500 metres Fitness training Go karting Hiking up to 4,500 metres Hunting (except big game) In-line skating Kite flying Moped riding / scooter biking Motor biking - as a pillion passenger Orienteering Outdoor endurance Outward bound Paint balling Quad biking Rock climbing - bouldering Safari tours Sandboarding / sand skiing Segway tours Skateboarding - ramp / half pipe / skate park / street Snooker Stilt walking Theme parks / fairgrounds Tramping up to 4,500 metres Tuk Tuk - as a passenger War games - online gaming War games / military simulation
- Optional extras
  Backpacking up to 6,000 metres Bushcraft up to 6,000 metres Bushwalking up to 6,000 metres Camping up to 6,000 metres Canyoning Cycling / biking - independent cycle touring Fell running / fell walking up to 6,000 metres Hiking up to 6,000 metres Kite buggy Kite wing Land surfing Rock climbing (indoor / outdoor) Trekking up to 6,000 metres

Sports Activities
- Included for all
  American football - gridiron Australian Rules Football (AFL) Athletics Badminton Baseball Basketball Cheerleading Clay pigeon shooting Cricket Croquet Darts Dodge ball Fencing Floorball Football Frisbee Golf Gym training Gymnastics / acrobatics Handball Hockey Horse riding - leisure/social/non-competitive riding Korfball Lacrosse Martial arts training - non-contact Netball Racquetball Rambling - up to 4,500 metres Rifle range / sports shooting Roller hockey Roller skating Rollerblading Rounders Running/ jogging (marathon distance or less) Soccer Softball Squash / racquet ball Stoolball Table tennis Tchoukball Tennis Trampolining Ultimate frisbee Volleyball Wake skating Wakeboarding Weight training Yoga - in class, alone / home practice
- Optional extras
  Bicycle polo Boxing Marital arts (training) Rugby - league / union Via ferrata Yoga (teaching)

Experience Activities
- Included for all
  Working - any professional, clerical or administrative work. Working - as a classroom teacher or classroom assistant Working - au pair, nanny or child minder Working - retail, bar or hospitality work involving light duties only
- Optional extras
  Working - general work and manual work not involving the use of mechanical or industrial machinery; at a height not exceeding 2 metres above ground level

Activities shown as "Included for all" are automatically included in both the Standard and Explorer plans. All sports listed as "Optional extras" will need to be added to your policy at the time of purchase. The list is intended as a guide only and there may be conditions or exclusions to cover. For details, read this helpdesk article, the Policy Wording or contact us.

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