The study, authored by Dr. Brian J. Buchanan of the UC Davis Department of Pediatrics and Drs. Jason Hoagland and Philip R. Fischer of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Utah, will appear in the May issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Aerotitis media, also know known as aviation otitis, is an inflammation of the middle ear that occurs when the Eustachian tube cannot equalize pressure between the inside of the airplane and the small volumes of air within the inner ear. Physicians commonly recommend chewing gum, yawning and swallowing, or using a warm, wet towel over the ear to decrease ambient pressure on the ears.
Some pediatricians suggest decongestants or antihistamines prior to take-off.
Studies of adult air travelers and scuba divers indicate pseudoephedrine, found in products such as Sudafed, can help reduce inner ear pain, but evidence of its effectiveness in children is anecdotal. The study examined the incidence of ear pain in 91 flights involving 50 children ages 6 month to 6 years who were given oral pseudoephedrine or an inactive placebo 30 to 60 minutes before departure from the Salt Lake City, Utah airport and again prior to their return flight. Children experienced air pain in 13 of the 91 flights - about 14 percent. While in some children drowsiness is a known side effect of pseudoephedrine, we expected to see more excitability. Whether parents should medicate their children for air travel was not addressed by the study.