Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Baro-Challenge-Induced Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Number of Conditions: 2
Airplane Ear
Specialty: Ear
Category: Eustachian Tube Disorders
Sub-category: Baro-Challenge-Induced Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Symptoms:
ear pain or discomfort during altitude changes; a feeling of fullness in the ear; muffled hearing; dizziness; ear popping or clicking sounds; mild to moderate hearing loss; rarely, vertigo or tinnitus
Root Cause:
Occurs when the Eustachian tube fails to equalize pressure between the middle ear and the external environment, often during rapid altitude changes, such as in an airplane ascent or descent.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Based on patient history (symptoms during altitude changes), physical examination (otoscopy revealing retracted or bulging eardrum), and possibly tympanometry to assess middle ear pressure.
Treatment:
Self-care measures (swallowing, yawning, chewing gum), nasal decongestant sprays before flight, oral antihistamines, and in severe cases, surgical intervention such as myringotomy or tympanostomy tube placement.
Medications:
Decongestants (e.g., pseudoephedrine ) to reduce nasal and sinus congestion, antihistamines (e.g., loratadine ) to alleviate allergic symptoms, and nasal corticosteroids (e.g., fluticasone ) to reduce inflammation. These medications are used to help relieve Eustachian tube dysfunction.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common; most individuals experience mild symptoms at least once, especially during airplane travel.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Flying while having a cold or sinus infection, allergies, a naturally narrow Eustachian tube, children under 10 (due to immature Eustachian tubes).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally resolves within a few hours to days without permanent damage; symptoms may persist longer if there is an infection or significant barotrauma.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe barotrauma can cause middle ear bleeding, tympanic membrane rupture, or permanent hearing loss.
Scuba Diving Barotrauma
Specialty: Ear
Category: Eustachian Tube Disorders
Sub-category: Baro-Challenge-Induced Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Symptoms:
ear pain during descent; muffled hearing; dizziness; vertigo; ear fullness; tinnitus; nosebleeds; severe cases may involve tympanic membrane rupture
Root Cause:
Results from the inability to equalize middle ear pressure with the increasing pressure in the external environment during a scuba dive descent.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history (onset during or after diving), physical examination (otoscopy may show middle ear effusion, eardrum bulging or perforation), and audiometry to assess hearing loss.
Treatment:
Ceasing the dive to ascend slowly, self-care measures like Valsalva maneuver, medications to relieve nasal congestion, and in severe cases, medical intervention for ear drum repair.
Medications:
Decongestants (e.g., pseudoephedrine ) to relieve nasal congestion, nasal corticosteroids (e.g., mometasone ) to reduce inflammation, and sometimes antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin ) to prevent or treat secondary infections.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Relatively common among divers, especially beginners or those diving with a cold or nasal congestion.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Poor equalization techniques, diving with nasal or sinus congestion, allergies, or having a narrow Eustachian tube.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Symptoms typically resolve with proper management; permanent damage is rare if barotrauma is addressed early.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Tympanic membrane rupture, secondary infections, persistent vertigo, or hearing loss in severe cases.