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Swimming in chlorinated water and its effect on Eustachian tube function

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

D. W. Morgan  and
P. M. Shenoi
D. W. Morgan
Affiliation:
Birmingham
P. M. Shenoi*
Affiliation:
Birmingham
*
Mr. P. M. Shenoi, East Birmingham Hospital, Birmingham B9 5ST.
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Abstract

Middle-ear effusion in children is considered to be the result of multiple factors. Swimming in chlorinated water has been incriminated as one such possible aetiological factor. To test the hypothesis that the chemical disinfectant in the swimming pool is probably responsible for the Eustachian tube dysfunction, 30 children between the ages of four and eight years were selected at random from the community health department computer records and were randomly allocated into two groups. Eustachian tube function was assessed by standard tympanometry both immediately prior to swimming (control) and 30 to 45 minutes following swimming in Group 1 and approximately 14 hours following swimming in Group 2. The results of the study showed no significant change (p>0.05) between pre- and post-swimming tympanometry. It is therefore concluded that swimming on the surface of chlorinated water does not compromise the Eustachian tube function in children with healthy middle ears.

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 103 , Issue 3 , March 1989 , pp. 257 - 258
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1989

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References

Spitzer, J. B. and Newman, C. W. (1984) Reliability of a measure of Eustachian tube function in normal subjects. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, 93: 48–51.Google Scholar
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