Barotitis
Written by Robert A Wilson   
Thursday, 15 February 2007

Barotitis is inflammatory damage to the middle ear often caused by a sudden change in the outside air pressure. This condition most commonly occurs after scuba diving or during airplane travel. If the air cannot balance out in between the middle ear and outside air via the eustachian tube, (a small tube that leads from the throat to the middle ear), too much or too little air pressure accumulates in the middle ear. This causes the eardrums to bulge outward in the ear canal or suck inward towards the middle ear. The eardrum could rupture if the pressure is too high. The eustachian tube may become clogged with a cold or allergies and swallowing cannot move the air in or out of the middle ear. Risk increases with recent respiratory infection, high impact sports, and in children who cannot open their eustachian tubes with swallowing.

Symptoms may include:

  • Ear pain
  • A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears
  • Dizziness
  • Hearing loss
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Headache

What your doctor can do:

  • Diagnose the disease by asking about your symptoms and doing a physical exam.
  • Prescribe a decongestant nasal spray and oral decongestants to open the eustachian tubes. The problem usually disappears rapidly without any further treatment.
  • Treat allergy symptoms as necessary.

What you can do:

  • When traveling by airplane, it is important to have your baby suck a bottle or pacifier when taking off and landing.
  • For older children and adults, chewing gum or hard candy can help.

What you can expect:

There is no danger of long-term complications and a re-check is not needed unless symptoms worsen or persist.

Contact your doctor if pain increases in the ear or if you begin running a fever, as this may signal the start of an infection.

Last Updated ( Friday, 08 February 2008 )