Flying High With Ear Problems?

Altitude changes plus ear infections can equal potential complications and a lot of discomfort for your tiny traveler.

Flying home for the holidays? If your child has an ear infection, you may want to hit the road instead. Ear infections occur because the Eustachian tube — the tube that connects the ear to the back of the nose and allows air to move through the middle ear — has become blocked by a cold and subsequently contaminated by germs. An infection develops, which often results in pain and fever.

“When descending from higher altitudes with an ear infection, the air pressure in the middle ear needs to equal the changing cabin pressure within the airplane,” said Kenny Chan, MD, chief of otolaryngology at The Children’s Hospital. “If the Eustachian tube is blocked due to a cold complicated by an ear infection, it doesn’t allow air to move into the middle ear, so the ears can’t pressurize.”

As a result, your child may experience increased pain and a tear in her eardrum that could result in temporary hearing loss. According to Dr. Chan, the best thing to do is avoid flying if your child has an ear infection.

“Popping the ears, chewing gum or taking decongestants won’t help relieve the extra pain or pressure that occurs in high altitudes,” Dr. Chan says. “Before flying, you can try to give an over-the-counter nasal decongestant such as Afrin® or Neo-Synephrine.”

To find a physician to help with your child’s ear problems, learn more about ear, nose and throat care at The Children's Hospital.