Shravan Gupta Explaining Ear Barotrauma

 

Barotrauma: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment

Barotrauma is a medical situation in which pain in ear arises due to fluctuation in pressure. This situation appears

usually when a person is subjected to altitude changes. The condition isn’t deemed to be fatal or harmful in some 

people, while for some several complications may arise. There are generally two types of barotrauma- acute or 

occasional and chronic or recurring.

Shravan Gupta Explaining Barotrauma

In this medical condition, sudden altitude changes cause stress in the eardrums, which can result in pain in the ear.

This condition can occur in either one of the ear or both at a time. A common situation in which people experience

barotrauma is when they land or ascend in a flight.

Symptoms:

Some common first signs and symptoms of barotrauma include:

• Pain or discomfort in the ear on a slight to moderate level

• Slight or moderate hearing loss

• Muffled hearing

• Feeing of stuffiness or fullness inside the ear

• Dizziness

When the condition becomes severe, patient experiences following symptoms:

• Harsh pain

• Increased pressure inside the ear

• Blood coming out of the ear

• Spinning sensation or vertigo

• Tinnitus or ringing sensation inside ear

• Injury to the eardrum

If the symptoms of barotrauma last for more than a few days, or it becomes severe, urgent medical attention should

be sought.

Causes:

Barotrauma is also referred to as airplane ear or aerostats media. The internal structure of the ear is made in a very

sophisticated way. In the human ear, a tube often known as a eustachian tube connects the middle portion of the ear

to the throat and nose. One of its main purposes is to regulate ear pressure. In various circumstances when this tube

becomes blocked, the risk of experiencing barotrauma increases manifolds.

The biggest reason behind the occurrence of barotrauma is a blockage in the eustachian tube. The tube strives to 

maintain a balance between the changing air pressures due to changes in altitudes. When a blockage occurs, the 

eustachian tube fails to regulate the air pressure leading to a pressure difference which causes symptoms to emerge

. Altitude change can also be deemed the critical reason behind barotrauma; hence it is usually experienced by 

passengers in aeroplane during ascending or descending. Other activities that can lead to potential barotrauma 

include scuba diving, driving in hills and mountains, or hiking. To avoid barotrauma while diving, divers are 

recommended to dive gradually, as it may cause injury to the ear and its internal parts.

Treatment:

Several medical records say that barotrauma of the ear self-heals and no medical intervention is required. In this 

situation when the symptoms are severe or they persist for longer times then medical consultation really becomes 

inevitable. Generally, physicians recommend following exercises for relief from barotrauma:

• Chewing gum

• Yawning

• Antihistamines or decongestants

• Breathing exercises

In cases where medical attention is required, they may suggest antibiotics or steroids to soothing down the

inflammation or treating infection. In the case where an injury has occurred in the eardrum, medication will be 

provided so that injury can heal. In more complicated cases, surgery can be carried out by specialist surgeons.

In some cases, certain small cylinders can be inserted by the doctors in the patient’s ear to stimulate airflow in the 

ear. These small cylinders also known as grommets are prescribed to children and also assist in protection from 

infections. In some cases, slits are made in the eardrums for equalizing pressure in the ear. If any fluid is present 

in the ear, it is drained out by a medical professional. The incision or slit heals quickly, though it is not deemed a 

permanent solution for barotrauma.

Disclaimer by Shravan Gupta: The above information about the disease should not followed, assumed or taken 

as medical advice. Neither is the above article about any research findings, nor anything discussed in the article 

an endorsement for any of the publications.