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Water precautions and tympanostomy tubes: a randomized, controlled trial

Nira A Goldstein1, Ellen M Mandel, Marcia Kurs-Lasky

  • 1ENT Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. ngoldstein@downstate.edu

The Laryngoscope
|February 4, 2005
PubMed

Insights

For young children with ear tubes, using ear plugs during water activities showed a small but significant decrease in otorrhea (middle ear fluid discharge) rates. Routine ear plug use may not be necessary due to minimal clinical impact.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Infectious Disease

Background:

  • Otorrhea is a common complication in children with tympanostomy tubes.
  • Water exposure is a potential risk factor for otorrhea.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if using ear plugs reduces otorrhea incidence in young children with tympanostomy tubes during water activities.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, randomized, investigator-blinded, controlled trial.
  • 201 children (6 months–6 years) with tympanostomy tubes were randomized into ear plug or no ear plug groups.
  • Follow-up occurred monthly for 1 year, with additional visits for otorrhea.

Main Results:

  • 47% of children using ear plugs developed otorrhea versus 56% without ear plugs (P = .21).
  • The monthly otorrhea rate was 0.07 with ear plugs and 0.10 without (P = .05).
  • A statistically significant increase in otorrhea rate was observed in children not using ear plugs.

Conclusions:

  • A small but statistically significant increase in otorrhea rate occurs in children with tympanostomy tubes who swim and bathe without ear plugs.
  • The clinical significance of this increase is small, suggesting routine ear plug use may be unnecessary.
Abstract

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