I'm not worried about the water because of the tubes, per se, but because a chronic drainage can mean a low grade externa. To fix that requires dry ears whether there are tubes in or not. In general, I don't recommend ear plugs for kids with tubes but those kids who lie back in the tub with their ears under water for long periods of time do tend to have more trouble. Vicki Tom Hargrove wrote: > > Using some law from Physics that I forgot a long time ago, it takes about 6 > feet of water depth to force water through the lumen of a standard PE tube. > The ENT literature is pretty clear that ear plugs aren't necessary for most > kids with tubes. Based on my clinical experience, I'm not sure that water > in the ears plays much of a role in purulent drainage from tubes; most of > these patients have cold or allergic rhinitis symptoms also--a more likely > culprit. > > Tom Hargrove, MD, FAAP > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Vicki L Soloniuk <> > To: Pedtalk <> > > > I would certainly talk to your ENT if there is any question like that. > > On the other hand, my experience has been that this occurs during the > > summer and that they are not keeping their ears as dry as they need to. > > > > Vicki > > >