Bacteriological aspects of swimming with grommets.
A prospective bacteriological and symptomatic study was carried out on 50 swimmers and 50 non-swimmers who had grommets inserted for secretory otitis media. The risk of developing otorrhoea with positive bacterial pathogens was similar for swimmers (7.9%) and non-swimmers (8.0%). Subdividing the non-swimmers into 'wetters' and 'strictly dry' there was a similar risk of ear symptoms and pathogens. All children who swim before the insertion of grommets should continue to do so postoperatively with no added risk of ear infections.
D000293:Adolescent; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013550:Swimming