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Ear emergencies

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Prevention:

• Never put anything in the ear canal without first consulting a physician.
• Never thump the head to try to correct an ear problem.
• Teach children not to put things in their ears.
• Avoid cleaning the ear canals altogether.
• Following an ear injury, avoid nose blowing and getting water in the injured ear.
• Treat ear infections promptly.

If you tend to feel pain and pressure when flying, drink lots of fluid before and during the flight. Avoid the use of alcohol, caffeine, or tobacco on the day of the flight. Chew gum, suck on a hard candy, or yawn during take off and landing. Talk to your doctor about taking a decongestant or using a nasal spray before you fly.

References:

Auerbach PS. Wilderness Medicine . 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2001:468-470.

DeLee JC, Drez, Jr., D, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez’s Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders; 2003:758.

DiMuzio J Jr, Deschler DG. Emergency department management of foreign bodies of the external ear canal in children. Otol Neurotol . 2002 Jul;23(4):473-5.

• Review Date: 2/12/2007
• Reviewed By: Alden J. Pearl, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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