How to treat and prevent ear barotrauma
How to treat and prevent ear barotrauma:
Barotrauma is one type of physical damage to body tissues caused by a change in pressure around the ear. A person can feel pain. Discomfort in the middle of their ear or can cause discomfort or pain as well as difficulty hearing.
It is important that
people understand what ear barotrauma is so that they can seek medical
attention if necessary. The condition of
barotrauma can be acute or chronic. Acute cases are common and generally
harmless. Though, a person with chronic ear barotrauma will experience
prolonged symptoms, which may lead to further complications.
Causes
of ear barotrauma:
The common cause of ear
barotrauma is the blockage of the eustachian tube, which connects the ear and
mouth and when there are external changes in pressure, the eustachian tube is
responsible for maintaining balance. Due to a blockage in the tube, the
pressure differences created inside and outside the middle ear can cause the
symptoms of ear barotrauma. In case of taking off or landing in an airplane the
change in altitude can also cause ear barotrauma.
Diagnosis:
In case of severe pain
or constantly recurring, or if there is fluid leakage or bleeding from the ear,
a person should see their doctor. The doctors check for ear infections and
examine the eardrum and the inside of the external ear canal to look for signs
of ear barotrauma.
Treatment:
To prevent any
infection while it is healing it is essential to keep the ear clean and away
from contamination. A doctor may prescribe antibiotic
therapy if an infection is present. In cases of chronic or
severe ear barotrauma, a doctor may decide that surgery is necessary. It is
possible to implant small cylinders called ear tubes into the ear using a
particular surgical procedure. These can relieve middle ear problems.
In case of children who
have hearing loss due to recurrent infections or on-going fluid collection in
the middle ear, the use of ear tube placement surgery is common. However, this
is rarely use.
Prevention:
A person can reduce
their risk of experiencing ear barotrauma by taking a decongestant, an
antihistamine, or both before activities where pressure changes are common.
These include scuba diving, hiking, and flying in an airplane.
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