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Is Long Distance Travel By Flight Advisable For An Infant?
Question: Hi. We would love to take our 9month old son to Australia to visit his sister. He's already had an ear infection twice. Both times it happened approximately 10days after flying. Could it be from flying? Is it safe to fly such a long distance with a baby this age?
Brief Answer:
You may fly with certain precautions
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Many a times we all suffer from pain in ears or uneasiness after a flight due to barotrauma. This sometimes uncomfortable sensation is related to pressure changes in the air space behind the eardrum (the middle ear). Normally, the eustachian tube, a passageway that leads from the middle ear to the back of the throat behind the nose, equalizes the air pressure in the middle ear to the outside air pressure by opening and letting air reach the middle ear. When our ears "pop" while yawning or swallowing, the eustachian tubes are adjusting the air pressure in the middle ears.
In infants, however, the relatively narrow eustachian tubes might not function as effectively, especially if they're clogged by inflammation and mucus from an ear infection or cold, or blocked by enlarged or swollen adenoids (lumps of immune system tissue located near the openings of the eustachian tubes).
It's safe to travel with your baby to Australia with certain measures to avoid barotrauma and make the journey comfortable.
1. Avoid travel when your child has cold and coughs. Else, you may continue a decongestant to help prevent barotrauma.
2. Feed your baby while take off and landing so that the Eustachian tube opens up and the barotrauma doesn't occur.
3. Avoid sleeping baby while take off and landing as this will minimise swallowing.
4. You may give ibuprofen or acetaminophen dose half an hour before take off to ease the pain and make his flight comfortable.
Infections aggravate barotrauma from flight but flying doesn't lead to infections usually.
Hopefully this will help you. I would be happy to help you with any further questions.
Take care
You may fly with certain precautions
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Many a times we all suffer from pain in ears or uneasiness after a flight due to barotrauma. This sometimes uncomfortable sensation is related to pressure changes in the air space behind the eardrum (the middle ear). Normally, the eustachian tube, a passageway that leads from the middle ear to the back of the throat behind the nose, equalizes the air pressure in the middle ear to the outside air pressure by opening and letting air reach the middle ear. When our ears "pop" while yawning or swallowing, the eustachian tubes are adjusting the air pressure in the middle ears.
In infants, however, the relatively narrow eustachian tubes might not function as effectively, especially if they're clogged by inflammation and mucus from an ear infection or cold, or blocked by enlarged or swollen adenoids (lumps of immune system tissue located near the openings of the eustachian tubes).
It's safe to travel with your baby to Australia with certain measures to avoid barotrauma and make the journey comfortable.
1. Avoid travel when your child has cold and coughs. Else, you may continue a decongestant to help prevent barotrauma.
2. Feed your baby while take off and landing so that the Eustachian tube opens up and the barotrauma doesn't occur.
3. Avoid sleeping baby while take off and landing as this will minimise swallowing.
4. You may give ibuprofen or acetaminophen dose half an hour before take off to ease the pain and make his flight comfortable.
Infections aggravate barotrauma from flight but flying doesn't lead to infections usually.
Hopefully this will help you. I would be happy to help you with any further questions.
Take care
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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