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Post-myringotomy care: a prospective study
Insights
Children with tympanostomy tubes can safely swim and bathe without earplugs. A study found no increased risk of ear infections, simplifying care for families and physicians.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Children with tympanostomy tubes often face restrictions regarding water activities like swimming and bathing.
- Parents typically provide constant supervision to prevent water entry into the ear canal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of suppurative otitis media in children with tympanostomy tubes in relation to bathing and swimming.
- To assess the safety of allowing children with tympanostomy tubes to swim and bathe with or without precautions.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involved over 1,000 children randomly assigned to two groups.
- One group used protective measures (earplugs, caps), while the other swam/bathed without precautions but used antibiotic ear drops.
- Data collected between June 1981 and August 1982.
Main Results:
- No significant increase in suppurative otitis media prevalence was observed in the 'open canal' (no precautions) group compared to the 'closed canal' group.
- Infections showed an even distribution throughout the year, without seasonal peaks related to water exposure.
Conclusions:
- Swimming and bathing are generally safe for most children with tympanostomy tubes.
- These findings simplify post-myringotomy care protocols for children, parents, and healthcare providers.
Abstract:
Children with tympanostomy tubes have always been considered somewhat handicapped in regard to swimming and bathing. Their parents had to maintain constant surveillance to prevent then from getting water in their ears. A prospective study involving more than 1,000 children was conducted between June 1981 and August 1982 on two groups of randomly selected patients to determine the prevalence of suppurative otitis media and its relationship to bathing and swimming. One group had to follow strict rules to prevent water entering the ear (bathing caps, earplugs) whereas the other group was allowed to bathe and swim without any precaution upon the condition of using a polymyxin B/gramicidin ear drop combination at bedtime on the day they swam. The study shows no increase in prevalence of suppurative otitis media in the "open canal" group as compared to the "closed canal" group. Furthermore, the monthly distribution of infections shows a relatively evan distribution throughout the year. This study implies that swimming and bathing are safe for the vast majority of children with tympanostomy tubes and thus simplifies enormously the post-myringotomy care for the child, the parents, and the physician.