Air travel affects ear pressure. You know this if you’ve ever felt your ears pop as cabin pressure changes on the plane’s way down. This discomfort could be made even worse by flying with ear problems.
Do you need to change your travel plans if you are flying with an ear infection? Will flying with ear problems damage your hearing?
Why your ears pop
It’s helpful to understand why your ears pop as your plane takes off or lands. Changes in air pressure in the middle ear cause the popping sensation. The eustachian tube connects your middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. The eustachian tube’s purpose is to normalize air pressure between your middle ear and the atmosphere around you.
Quick changes in altitude cause rapid changes in air pressure. We experience this most commonly when a plane rises or descends or when you hike up a mountain or scuba dive.
When a plane takes off, the air pressure around you decreases, but the small pocket of air within your ear hasn’t had time to adjust as quickly.
To balance this difference in air pressure between your environment and your middle ear, the eustachian tube comes back into play. It must open briefly so the air pocket in your middle ear can adjust to the environment around you. The “popping” sensation you feel as you yawn or swallow is that pressure difference being evened out.
If the pressure isn’t balanced, it can build up behind your eardrum. This can cause ear pain or discomfort. However, this feeling is usually temporary. After some time, your eustachian tube will open up, relieve your ear pressure, and your ears will pop.
Can I fly with an ear infection?
Because ear infections can, in and of themselves, increase the pressure within the middle ear, combining an active ear infection with a flight can cause intense pain and, rarely, complications like a ruptured eardrum. If you or your child is going to fly with an ear infection, you may want to consider changing your travel plans. Waiting until your ear infection clears up will keep you from experiencing painful and intense pressure buildup in your ear.
Signs of an ear infection
An ear infection (acute otitis media) is a common medical condition. When a bacteria or virus infects the middle ear, it can become inflamed. This inflammation can cause symptoms such as:
- Ear pain/ earache
- Fever
- Hearing loss
- Fluid drainage
- Headache
Inflammation from an ear infection can also lead to eustachian tube blockage. Put simply, the tube that allows air in and out of the middle ear becomes stopped. This can make it hard for the eustachian tube to normalize air pressure.
Other causes of a blocked eustachian tube include:
- Colds
- Sinus infections
- Nasal blockage
Blockage in the Eustachian tube can cause symptoms such as:
- Ear pain or pressure
- Trouble hearing
- Ringing or buzzing in the ear (tinnitus)
- Fluid buildup in the ear
- Feeling dizzy or unsteady
Flying with blockage in the eustachian tube can make these symptoms worse, or cause even more significant problems.
Complications from flying with an ear infection
Not everyone who flies with an ear infection will experience problems. But, a blocked eustachian tube can limit your body’s ability to regulate the air pressure behind your eardrum. This can significantly increase your risk of damage to your eardrum.
The eardrum, also known as the tympanic membrane, is a thin membrane located within the ear. It separates the outer ear from the middle ear. Its primary purpose is to transmit sound vibrations from the environment to the middle and inner ear, allowing us to hear.
Air buildup due to changes in pressure is known as ear barotrauma (airplane ear). Ear barotrauma can be very painful. It can also cause temporary hearing loss or ringing in your ear (tinnitus). Severe cases of airplane ear can even lead to a ruptured eardrum.
A ruptured eardrum is when the thin membrane separating the ear canal from the middle ear gets torn or punctured. A ruptured eardrum can result in pain, hearing loss, fluid drainage, or blood from the ear. In some cases, it may cause dizziness or balance issues.
Ruptured eardrums heal, and most people recover their hearing. Small ruptures may take days to weeks to heal. More serious tears may take months. By flying with an ear infection, you are putting yourself at the relatively small risk of these complications.
Flying with a child
Children have narrower eustachian tubes than adults. This makes it even harder for them to expel extra air inside the ear, which is often why babies and young children cry as a plane descends. It hurts!
Children are more at risk for airplane ear and also have a higher risk of severe ear infections. This makes it even more likely that they may experience painful and dangerous complications from flying.
Before taking a child with an ear infection on a plane, get medical advice from a licensed healthcare provider. They may or may not caution you against travel, depending on your child’s condition.
Preventing ear discomfort
If you or your kid has an ear infection, there are several simple ways to prevent the discomfort that comes from changes in ear pressure.
Take a pain reliever: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen will reduce inflammation that causes blockage and pain symptoms. While ibuprofen may not be able to prevent airplane ear, it may be able to lessen the discomfort caused by a blocked ear tube.
Yawn: Yawning can help encourage your eustachian tubes to release built-up air.
Chew gum or suck on a hard candy: Chewing or swallowing can help to encourage the eustachian tubes to open. Chewing gum or sucking on a hard candy (which will stimulate the salivary glands) can help prevent discomfort caused by air travel.
Use the Valsalva maneuver: The Valsalva maneuver is a breathing technique. To do it, take a slow, deep breath into your mouth. Close your lips and squeeze your nostrils shut. Then, push the air in your mouth like you’re blowing up a balloon (except your mouth is closed). This move can help equalize the air pressure in your ears. It opens the eustachian tube to clear the ear canals and sinuses.
Wear ear protection: You can buy specific earplugs at most major retailers. Earplugs slow air movement in and out of your ears. This can help prevent rapid changes in air pressure that cause airplane ear. Talk to a healthcare provider before using earplugs while dealing with an ear infection.
Take a decongestant: Decongestants are not recommended for children. In adults, oral decongestants or nasal sprays can reduce blockage in the ear canal and nasal passages. Take an oral decongestant like Sudafed one hour before takeoff. Apply a decongestant spray to each nostril 30 minutes before takeoff. This timing ensures that the medication will begin to work before you experience a change in air pressure. Again, only adults and children over 12 should take any decongestant medication. Talk to a healthcare provider before giving a child any sort of decongestant medication.
How Sesame can help
Flying with an ear infection can be painful and dangerous. It’s best to err on the side of caution and get medical advice before getting on a plane with an ear infection. This is especially important if you are traveling with a child with an ear infection.
If you need to talk to a provider fast, book an online doctor appointment on Sesame. You can discuss your travel plans with a licensed healthcare provider during a video ear infection visit. If appropriate, your doctor may prescribe medication or another treatment option to help you or your child fly safely.
