Otitis is an ear infection and the most common reason a mother takes her child to the doctor. The most common otitis media is caused by infection and inflammation of the middle Ear, located behind the eardrum. This type of infection usually develops very quickly, so today we may be excellent, and tomorrow we will wake up with a fatal and deafening pain in one of our ears.
Otitis is due to an obstruction in the Eustachian tube. This tube, which goes from the middle of the Ear to the throat, is responsible for draining a fluid produced in the middle Ear; therefore, when the Eustachian tube is blocked and said fluid accumulates, an infection of the middle ear: otitis media. As this condition can occur very quickly, it may be possible that it takes us by surprise before taking an airplane trip and, given the pressure that flights suggest, we cannot help but ask ourselves: Can I travel by plane if I have otitis? ? If this is your case, in this FastlyHealarticle you will find the answer.
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If I have otitis, can I travel by plane?
Otitis media represents a build-up of discharge and mucus in the middle Ear that often comes from the throat due to a cold or upper respiratory infection. When traveling on an airplane, otitis does represent a problem, but not during the trip. Still, during takeoff and landing, moments in which there is a considerable increase in pressure, if the otitis has not been well treated and the middle Ear is very inflamed, it can cause perforation of the eardrum.
Although it is very uncommon for the eardrum to be injured by the pressure of landing, if you have otitis and travel by plane, you will experience extreme pain when taking off, and landing; even people with a cold can also get it. To experience. So, although it is not forbidden to travel by plane with otitis when the infection is very recent, it is better to avoid it or consult our doctor since the pain can be so annoying that you can even lose your hearing for half an hour and be left experiencing discomfort that can last throughout our vacations.
What to do if I have otitis and I am going to travel by plane?
Before the flight
It is recommended that if you have otitis days before taking a flight, you go immediately to your GP to examine the condition of your ears and can prescribe the necessary medications to overcome the infection as soon as possible and before getting on the plane. Fortunately, otitis is a condition that responds immediately to antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, and when you start taking them, you will notice a considerable improvement.
If the accumulation of mucus and substances in the middle Ear is chronic, it is repetitive in time; it may be necessary to drain the Ear to unclog the Eustachian tube and thus decongest the Middle Ear. It is essential to be consistent with medical treatment and take proper medication to avoid a relapse before the trip.
Before getting on the flight, you can apply analgesic drops sold in pharmacies without a prescription and help relieve the pain of inflammation of the middle Ear in your Ear. It is also advisable to apply some saline solution in the nostrils to decongest the mucus that can travel to the middle Ear through the Eustachian tube; the more decongested you are, the better.
During flight
Ideally, to avoid the discomfort that occurs when the plane takes off or lands, it is to keep active the muscles responsible for opening the Eustachian tube, which will also help prevent the ears from clogging with pressure. How do we do this? There are many ways, the most common being to chew gum before, during, and after takeoff and landing.
Another alternative is to voluntarily yawn or do the simulation of chewing and swallowing since all these actions stimulate the movement of the muscles of the jaw and ears, activating the opening of the Eustachian tube and preventing the increase in pressure from blocking the ears. Drinking water throughout the flight is also recommended to keep the body hydrated and stimulate these muscles.
Home remedies for otitis media
We can use some alternatives at home to help our hearing recover more quickly and prevent any injury during the plane trip. Here we offer you a list of the most effective:
- Dry heat: the heat helps reduce inflammation and relieve the pain of otitis media. You can use a hot compress and place it on your Ear, fill a thermal bag with plenty of hot water and rest on it.
- Garlic oil: heat a cup of olive oil in a double boiler, and when it is hot enough, add two crushed garlic and stir for five minutes. Then, strain the preparation and when the liquid is warm, apply three drops into your Ear. The antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties of garlic will help reduce otitis media symptoms and cure the condition.
- Hydrogen peroxide: lie on your side, leaving the infected Ear up. Add hydrogen peroxide to the Ear until it is filled. Let the water sit for five minutes, and then turn your head on a paper towel to expel the water. Hydrogen peroxide’s antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties will help reduce infection and drain any existing wax build-up.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Can, I travel by plane if I have otitis? We recommend that you enter our category of Ear, nose and throat .