Glue Ear - Diving Risk

[peter_dorset]

My girlfriend has been diagnosed with Glue Ear and has been told to take decongestants. She has not had a full check up by the doctor and have been told that she may have to live with it. (seems an odd comment to me)

She was also told that she would not need to give up diving but need to stay at 5 meters max.

My questions are

How long should Glue Ear last when prescribed decongestants?

If it does not clear up in this time should we ask for a referral?

What are the risks of diving with this if any?

What other treatments can be prescribed?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide

Peter

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Peter,

"Glue ear" is a lay term, more common in the UK than the USA. Technically it refers to adhesive otitis media, or the formation of bands of fibrous tissue in the middle ear space ----> http://www.midamericahearing.com/images/Ear Anatomy.GIF. It most typically is seen in individuals with a long history of fluid accumulation and inflammation in the middle ear area.

Adhesive otitis media can be confused with several other maladies of the ear, e.g., otitis media with effusion, and requires a specialist for accurate diagnosis. It is a chronic condition and would not be expected to respond to decongestants.

The primary risk of adhesive otitis media for scuba is damage to the middle or inner ear due to inability to equalize. And, the risk may become greater with diving as repeated clearing of the ears can cause fluid build up that could make the situation worse.

If the complaints continue following a reasonable course of a potent decongestant, referral to an ENT certainly is indicated.

The person with an occlusive condition of the middle ear would be well advised to skip the diving altogether, 5 meters depth or otherwise, until a definitive diagnosis is made and clearance to dive is given by an ENT knowledgeable in diving medicine.

Helpful?

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[TSandM]

Boy, Doc, I'm glad you knew what it was. I'd never heard the term before.

 

[peter_dorset]

Hi DocVikingo,

Many thanks for your helpful comments we will see how the decongestants work out and if it still persists we will ensure that a referral is made to a ENT.

Thank you,

Kind regards
Peter

 

[DocVikingo]

My pleasure, Peter.

Please keep the board posted on how events unfold.

Thanks,

DocVikingo

 

[knotical]

need to stay at 5 meters max.

Partial hijack? I'm skeptical whenever I hear advice like this, especially if equalizing is a factor. The greatest pressure change ratios occur in the shallowest water, so what is the advantage of limiting depth?

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi knotical

No hijack--good point. Whenever I see that type of depth advice, I immediately conclude that the person giving it likely is largely clueless.

Regards,

DocVikingo