Got an ear infection due to flying....

[Poohbear123]

How to avoid this next time? My Dr. said to take Sudafed 1 hour before boarding, will this work?

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

I ALWAYS get an ear infection from flying... so I am interested if it is true about Sudafed also.

 

[magiroux]

I was told this (actually, he recommended 1/2 dose of bendryl, but same concept) by an emergency room Dr in FL.

The explanation given was it will dry out the fluids that collect in your ear while flying. There is LOTS of bacteria in the plane/airport and tends to settle in this fluid, hence the resulting ear infection. Children are more suspeptable to this, because their ability to drain this fluid has not been fully developed yet. Also helps with the take off/landing pain many people, especially kids, experience since it is the fluid build up that causes the pain.

That's what I was told anyways and it made sense to me. FWI; benedryl is also helpful if your child gets car sick.

 

[Poohbear123]

Anyone else?

 

[ducklite]

Any decongestant will work--depends on if you want to be drowsy to sleep or not.

Anne

 

[Poohbear123]

NON-Drowsy please! What about Advil cold and flu think that will work?

 

[Snoozan]

I believe my sister, who used to fly in the Air Force, was told to take Sudafed and Afrin nose spray, when she had to fly with a cold. I am also a believer in the Ear planes - which keeps ears from becoming "stuffy".

 

[soccer mom]

My doc told me to use the sudafed and afrin, too. I have ear problems all the time. Sometimes I am amazed at how well I can hear after doing this. Usually keeps be clear for a day or two before I go back into the tunnel.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Physicians love to recommend Afrin or Sudafed, but just be aware that they both can increase your blood pressure. If you have High Blood Pressure these two over the counter drugs can cause issues.

 

[liamandcaili]

I feel a little like a pharmaceutical salesperson for the number of times I have mentioned this product on these boards, but truly, I have no stock in the company!

If you don't want to take Sudafed or any of the other decongestants, then there is an ear-ache product called Similasan...found near the ear wax products and other ear medications in the local pharmacy. I give this to my children any time they complain of ear pain (DS used to have chronic ear infections before I gave him this) and it always alleviates the pain and prevents the problem from getting worse after one application. Our last trip, DS started screaming about how his ear was hurting him a few hours after we flew. I gave him a few drops of this, and he was fine. This trip, I plan to give each of my children a few drops before the flight and a few drops after the flight, and hopefully, that will prevent any screaming later in the evening.

 

[Honeybehr1]

Each time my 8 yr old has flown he has gotten an ear infection. His ped gives us a RX for antibiotics just in case. But we tried Benedryl (full dose) one hour before flying. No ear infection. We did the same thing on the way back and again no ear infection.

I 100% swear by Benedryl for flying.

 

[Poohbear123]

Have High Blood Pressure, and will try the Similasan. I plan on flying to Orlando next year too, and don't want to have to buy Meds from the Dr. again.

 

[LuckySadie]

Wow my son had a terrible ear/sinus infection on our last trip to WDW, his first flying trip. It was probably the flight that caused it! Guess it's Benedryl or Sudafed for us too next time!

 

[localdriver]

Flying doesn't create sinus or ear infections. Although it may aggravate one that already exists.

 

[Honeybehr1]

Flying doesn't create sinus or ear infections. Although it may aggravate one that already exists.

But then how can you explain this. My son went to the Ped in the monring. No ear infection. Flew to Palm Beach and by midnight he had a raging ear infection?

I personally beleive that if there is fluid in the ear at all, flying will compound the issue and an infection will result. I have had it happen twice. But by taking benedryl, it dries up any fluid and then there is no chance of getting an infection.

 

[Poohbear123]

But then how can you explain this. My son went to the Ped in the monring. No ear infection. Flew to Palm Beach and by midnight he had a raging ear infection?

I personally beleive that if there is fluid in the ear at all, flying will compound the issue and an infection will result. I have had it happen twice. But by taking benedryl, it dries up any fluid and then there is no chance of getting an infection.

This is EXACTLY how my Dr. explained it. When the pressure in the cabin changes, via take off and landing, this is when the "fluids" build up. If there is a "bug" in the ear, this is what causes the Ear Infection.

 

[Paula H]

Another vote here for Benadryl - at least for the kids. I give them a little a couple of hours before we fly. I have a chronic problem with fluid in my ears - makes me lightheaded, dizzy and sometimes hard to hear. I swear by Guaifenesin - I have a prescription form, but this is the same med. as Robitussin or Mucinex. I have to take this pretty often for my ear problems, and I always take it the day before flying so that no fluid can back up in there. Unlike Sudafed (a decongestant) or Benadryl (an antihistamine), this is an expectorant.

 

[localdriver]

This is EXACTLY how my Dr. explained it. When the pressure in the cabin changes, via take off and landing, this is when the "fluids" build up. If there is a "bug" in the ear, this is what causes the Ear Infection.

TY this was my point, exactly.. Flying in it's self doesn't cause anything.

 

[pugdog]

TY this was my point, exactly.. Flying in it's self doesn't cause anything.

You are both correct on that. Flying in no way causes an ear infection on it's own. You have to have the bug in the ear to start with. Yes the pressure change can cause increased fliud but if you don't have and bacteria in the ear to start with then no ear infection.
As stated earlier there are 2 ways to deal with it, drugs or earplanes. Both work equally well just your preference if you want to use drugs or not. ug: