Barotitis media or Airplane ear is described as the condition that causes ear discomfort due to Pressure changes between the environment and the Middle Ear. This condition is also known as ear barotrauma or aerotitis media. People feel an airplane ear while the flight is climbing upwards after takeoff or descending to land.
Symptoms
People can experience airplane ear in one ear at a time or both simultaneously. Some common signs which indicate Barotitis media are as follows:
- Slight / moderate / severe auditory loss
- Moderate to severe pain in the ear
- Feeling stuffiness in the ear
- Bleeding from the person’s ear or nose
- Increased ear pressure
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ear
Causes
Airplane ear or Barotitis media occurs when there is a mismatch of air pressure between the environment and the person’s middle ear. This results in abnormal vibration of the eardrum or tympanic membrane.
In the human ear, the eustachian tube is responsible for regulating ear pressure. The eustachian tube is a narrow passage that connects to the middle ear. In the event of any activity in which the air pressure changes rapidly, the tube is unable to respond accordingly causing symptoms of Barotitis media.
Some of these activities are mentioned below:
- Taking off or descending in a flight
- Deep diving or scuba diving
- Nearby explosions
- Hyperbaric oxygen chambers
- Riding in an elevator
- Driving in the mountains
Treatment
For treating and avoiding Barotitis media, several steps can be taken such as:
- Yawn and chew while pressure changes: Chewing gum, yawning or sucking on candy can help to activate the muscles which are responsible for opening up the eustachian tubes in the middle ear.
- Use Valsalva maneuver: The activity which involves blowing your nose with nostrils and mouth closed helps in establishing the balance between the middle ear and the flight.
- Avoid sleep while takeoff and landing: Sleeping while ascents and descents hinder people from performing the above activities to equalize the air pressure.
- Use filtered earplugs: With the help of these earplugs, air pressure can be slowly equalized with the middle ear air pressure. They are readily available in the markets, but with them too, people have to do actions of yawning or swallowing.
- Use nasal spray: People having nasal congestion during flights can use the nasal spray half an hour before ascents and descents. Excessive usage of nasal sprays can also increase nasal congestion.
- Take allergy medication: People having allergies should take the medications an hour before the flight.
- Use decongestant pills: People who don’t have heart disease or rhythm disorder or high blood pressure and are not pregnant are seen to take decongestant pills 30-60 mins before the flight to avoid Barotitis media.
- Drink hot water: Drinking hot water during take-off and landing releases the pressure and helps in avoiding the pain or at least minimizes it.
In cases where people face severe Barotitis media, doctors are seen to surgically replace the tubes in the eardrum so that fluids can be drained and proper ventilation is maintained. Also with the help of ear tubes, popularly known as grommets or tympanostomy tubes, ear pressure can be easily maintained.
In some cases, doctors might choose the option to make a tiny slit in the eardrum to aid in equalizing the air pressure, removing any residual fluid present in the middle ear. It is not considered as a permanent solution as the slit made heals quickly.
Disclaimer: The information in no way constitutes, or should be construed as medical advice. Nor is the above article an endorsement of any research findings discussed in the article an endorsement for any of the source publications.
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/airplane-ear/symptoms-causes/syc-20351701
- https://www.healthline.com/health/ear-barotrauma#in-infants
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