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Ear anatomy
Ear anatomy


Ear barotrauma

Alternative Names:
Barotitis media; Barotrauma; Ear popping; Pressure-related ear pain; Eustachian tube dysfunction

Symptoms:
If severe or prolonged:
  • Hearing loss, moderate to severe
  • Feeling of pressure in the ears (as if underwater)
  • Nosebleed
  • Ear pain


Signs and tests:

During an inspection of the ear, the doctor may see a slight outward bulge or inward retraction of the eardrum. If the condition is severe, there may be blood behind the eardrum. Severe barotrauma may be difficult to distinguish from ear infection.




Review Date: 10/25/2004
Reviewed By: Kevin Fung, M.D., FRCS(C), Department of Otolaryngology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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