Flying with an ear infection can cause pain due to changes in cabin pressure, but for those who must fly, using a decongestant and swallowing frequently can help manage discomfort. Chewing gum or sucking on candy can also relieve pressure. See a doctor for serious infections.
If possible, it’s best to avoid flying with an ear infection because the change in cabin pressure can cause a lot of pain. Avoiding air travel, however, is not an option for many people, especially those who travel on a regular basis for business and those who work in the air travel field. For people who have to fly, there are two basic ways to avoid pain and complications: use an over-the-counter decongestant and make sure you swallow frequently.
People who have a serious ear infection should see a doctor before flying. Those with a mild ear infection will usually be able to manage with an over-the-counter decongestant. A decongestant can be taken by mouth, in capsule form, or it can be applied topically, as a liquid that is put into the nose with a dropper or spray nozzle.
In addition to taking a decongestant during or just before a flight, those who will be flying with an ear infection can start using the decongestant the day and night before the flight. This will help manage inflammation in the sinuses and ear canal, which will help reduce pain.
The second method of dealing with the discomfort of an ear infection while flying is actually a trick that many people use to avoid ear pain during takeoff and landing. It is during these periods of the flight that cabin pressure experiences the greatest changes, which can cause the most ear pain, especially for those with an ear infection. Making sure you swallow frequently is a good way to manage how booth pressure affects your ears.
Most people do this by chewing gum during takeoff and landing. Chewing gum causes the mouth to produce extra saliva, which in turn causes the person chewing the gum to swallow more frequently than they otherwise would. For those who don’t like chewing gum, sucking on a throat lozenge or piece of hard candy can also help relieve pressure in the ears.
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