Barotits Media in Aircrews

항공승무원의 기압성 중이염

Middle-ear barotrauma is a common problem reported by aircrew members and passengers. Studies have shown that 20~50% of passengers report ear complaints during the flight or after landing. Barotitis media is defined as an acute or chronic inflammation caused by a pressure differential between the tympanic cavity and the surrounding atmosphere. The Problems caused by otitis media or sinusitis of aircrew during landing and take-off can be a threat to aviation safety. Therefore, the aviation medical examiner should know about barotitis media of aircrews. In this paper, we aimed to learn what is barotitis media and how much it could affect aircrews. Also, we aimed to evaluate how barotitis media could make an impact on crews during flight, and how to manage these problems.