Condition Lookup

Start typing to search for a specific condition, or select a specialty to see all of its conditions

Sub-Category:

Middle and Inner Ear Trauma

Number of Conditions: 1

Barotrauma (Pressure-Related Ear Injury)

Specialty: Ear

Category: Trauma and Injury to the Ear

Sub-category: Middle and Inner Ear Trauma

Symptoms:
ear pain; hearing loss; tinnitus; vertigo; fullness or pressure in the ear; bleeding from the ear in severe cases

Root Cause:
Damage to the middle or inner ear due to sudden changes in air or water pressure, leading to eustachian tube dysfunction or rupture of the eardrum.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, otoscopy to check for eardrum damage, audiometry to assess hearing loss, and imaging (CT scan) for severe cases.

Treatment:
Rest, pressure-equalizing techniques (e.g., yawning, swallowing, or Valsalva maneuver), and surgical repair (e.g., tympanoplasty) if the eardrum is ruptured.

Medications:
Pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen (analgesics), decongestants (e.g., pseudoephedrine ) to relieve eustachian tube blockage, and antibiotics (if infection is suspected).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common among individuals exposed to rapid pressure changes, such as scuba divers, pilots, or frequent air travelers.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Rapid altitude or depth changes, nasal congestion, pre-existing eustachian tube dysfunction, and sinus infections.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Most cases resolve spontaneously or with conservative management, but severe cases may require surgical intervention.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Persistent hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic eustachian tube dysfunction, and rarely, vertigo or balance disorders.