I often caution my patients who spend lots of time in the ocean to wear ear plugs. The water off of Southern California beaches can be quite polluted, and ear infections can easily result. Avid swimmers and surfers are especially at risk for ear conditions, since they spend so much time in the water. I usually see an increase in ear infections during the Summer, when people tend to enjoy the ocean.
But people who swim in pools can also be at risk, despite the chlorination designed to keep pools clean. Public swimming pools in particular can be risky. According to a recent national survey of 1,000 US adults by the Water Quality and Health Council, almost half (47 percent) of survey respondents admitted to unhygienic pool behavior. For instance, one in five people surveyed admit to urinating in a pool. Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) say their fellow swimmers fail to shower before swimming—and roughly one-third (35 percent) admit to bypassing the shower without stopping.
The survey was part of a joint effort between the Centers for Disease Control and the Water Quality and Health Council to find ways to curb the tide of rising recreational water illnesses such as diarrhea, respiratory illness, and ear infections.
So my advice to anyone using a public pool: use your eyes and nose to determine if a pool is fit for swimming. If it looks or smells dirty, it probably is. And even if it looks clean, you may want to consider wearing earplugs to protect your ears. There is no quicker way to spoil Summer fun than by contracting a water-caused ear infection.