Why is there fluid behind my eardrum when I fly?

Ear barotrauma (airplane ear) happens when your middle ear is affected by sudden changes in air and/or water pressure. Those pressure changes may happen if you're flying in an airplane, riding an elevator, diving to the bottom of a pool or scuba diving.



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Negative pressure develops in the middle ear and fluid is drawn into the ear from surrounding tissue.

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Introduction. Changes in air pressure during flying can cause ear-drum pain and perforation, vertigo, and hearing loss. It has been estimated that 10% of adults and 22% of children might have changes to the ear drum after a flight, although perforation is rare. Symptoms usually resolve spontaneously.

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The Valsalva Maneuver Close your mouth, pinch your nostrils together, and blow softly. The action of creating pressure in the back of the nose can open the eustachian tube and equalize the pressure. But be careful not to blow too hard so you don't damage your eardrums.

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Generally, airplane ear does not pose problems unless there is any structural damage in the middle ear. Rare complications may include permanent hearing loss and chronic tinnitus [6],[7].

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Should your ears “plug up” when taking off, hold your nose and swallow. This will help suck excess air pressure out of the middle ear. 45 minutes before the aircraft is due to land again use the nasal spray every five minutes for 15 minutes. Chew gum to stimulate swallowing and opening of the eustachian tube.

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Airplane ear typically lasts no longer than 20-30minutes from the time a plane starts to descend, however it is not uncommon for symptoms to last for up to an hour. If your symptoms, especially pain, persist for longer than one or two hours, you should call an ENT specialist.

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If your ears feel full and blocked or you keep getting the sensation that they aren't able to pop properly, then flying is probably going to make this worse. It is especially important for children to avoid flying with an ear infection as they are at higher risk due to having narrower Eustachian tubes.

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Since travelling by plane can be very uncomfortable when you have an ear infection, it is best to avoid flying whenever you are feeling ill. It is especially important if the ear infection is making it harder to clear your ears as this means you are more likely to experience problems.

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If you're taking antihistamines, decongestants, or over-the-counter pain medicine like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, it's important to take your medication at least an hour before your flight so it has time to work before your plane takes off.

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You'll probably find that the ear symptoms simply settle soon after landing. But sometimes, they can take 24 hours to settle. The important thing is to keep swallowing – this can eventually open up the Eustachian tube and equalise the pressure and therefore lessen your symptoms.

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