Otolaryngologists talk about aviation otitis media

  With the development of transportation, more and more people are traveling by air. Many passengers experience symptoms such as discomfort in the ear during the descent of the plane and even hearing loss in the following days. This is known as aviation otitis media. In essence, it is an air pressure injury to the middle ear that occurs when descending by airplane.  If the pressure in the middle ear is not adjusted in time, the pressure in the middle ear will be lower than the external pressure and negative pressure will form in the tympanic chamber, resulting in mucosal edema, vasodilatation and congestion in the tympanic chamber, leakage of serum or bleeding, which is manifested as fluid or blood in the tympanic chamber, or even rupture of the tympanic membrane. The main manifestations are discomfort in the ear, swelling or pain in both ears, tinnitus and vertigo, and hearing loss.  To prevent aviation otitis media, swallow saliva, chew bubble gum or chewing gum, drink something and puff your cheeks during the descent. The human middle ear is a one-sided drum-like gas-containing cavity organ, and the middle ear is connected to the outside world through the eustachian tube, and this connection has a one-way live door, that is, the gas inside the middle ear drum can automatically escape, but the outside gas must enter with the swallowing action to complete. If the eustachian tube functions well and swallows in time to allow outside airflow into the tympanic chamber, the damage will not occur if the pressure inside and outside the tympanic membrane is balanced. Modern high-altitude transport planes are well-sealed and well-equipped, so passengers rarely feel anything abnormal when the plane is descending, and aviation otitis media rarely occurs.  In addition, passengers with the following conditions should avoid flying: 1) acute upper respiratory tract infection, commonly known as the flu; 2) severe allergic rhinitis; 3) pregnancy with nasal edema; 4) those who have experienced similar symptoms in the past by airplane.  For those who have the above conditions and cannot avoid air travel, it is best to consult and treat them at a hospital otolaryngology department before flying.  Once aviation otitis media occurs, timely treatment should be carried out, using nasal drops such as “nasal pass” and “ephedrine nasal drops” into the nostrils, tilting the head backward when dropping the medicine so that the medicine flows near the eustachian tube. If a “click” is heard, it means that the eustachian tube has returned to normal. Severe cases should be treated with blowing tension, including the simple and feasible pinch nasal puffing method, i.e. pinch both noses to do puffing action. Prolonged unremitting aviation otitis media requires treatment such as tympanocentesis or tympanic tube placement. Currently, the popular treatment method abroad for this condition is “laser perforation”. In the United States, some patients who frequently suffer from aviation otitis media and cannot avoid air travel go to the hospital for this procedure before flying. Laser treatment of aviation otitis media is convenient, fast, less painful, and effective, and avoids the need for antibiotics.