[The effect of swimming on nasal patency and tubal function in children. Prospective 24-week cross-over study in 154 children]. / De invloed van het zwemmen op de neusdoorgankelijkheid en de tubafunktie bij kinderen.Prospectieve cross-over studie bij 154 kinderen gedurende vierentwintig weken.

This prospective cross-over study involving 154 healthy school children over a time span of 24 weeks revealed a favorable influence of swimming on nasal patency and tubal function in children. The positive influence of bathing on middle ear ventilation seems to be of shorter duration than that on nasal resistance. Tympanogram distribution and nasal resistance are most favorable in girls, older children and in the spring-summer period. A good nasal patency is often associated with a good middle ear ventilation. Advising children against swimming because of sinusitis and otitis is probably not justified.

[The effect of swimming on the nasal passages and on tube function in children]. / De invloed van het zwemmen op de neusdoorgankelijkheid en de tubafunktie bij kinderen.

In two studies the authors want to confirm experimentally what is assumed in every day ENT-practice: otitis and sinusitis are not infrequent complications of swimming. The first study, involving 60 children with chronic non-specific lung diseases shows that swimming in a sea water pool increases the nasal airway resistance during two days. In the second study, performed in 32 normal children swimming in a chlorous pool, a negative relationship is found between the number of days after the swimming and the increased nasal airway resistance. Probably other factors also play a part in this phenomenon. Due to the too small number of children showing an otitis media with effusion, the influence of swimming on the function of the Eustachian tube could not be determined.