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Is Air Travel Safe If Having Grommets In Ear?
we have a family holiday booked for May however i m a bit worrying that the flight may damage my son s ears. He was born with cleft palate and has glue ear. He is borderline Perrie Robin s syndrome. He had grommet insertion at the time of palate repair since then he has had numerous ear infections that have grown staph aureus +++ and pseudomonas +++. Obviously I dont want to put him at risk but would also like to go. Any advice?
Wed, 30 Sep 2020
Hi,
Noted the history about your son with known borderline Perrie Robin;s syndrome having operated cleft palate and inserted with grommet in ears but develops recurrent infections with Staph aureus and Pseudomonas, wants to have air travel hence wants to know whether he can fly.
My thoughts:
Since grommets have been inserted they are working as Eustachian tubes to equalise the atmospheric pressure and pressure in middle ear.
- Hence no worry for air travel.
- Proper evaluation by an ENT Surgeon to find the reason of recurrent ear infection.
- ENT Endoscopy.
- MRI of the nose and sinuses,
- Pus from ear to be sent for gram staining, culture and sensitivity which can give best possible choice as a cause and have proper management.
- CT scan or MRI of the mastoids to know the status of bones and antral cavity.
- To use face mask when going in public or anywhere outside home.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. T. Chandrakant, ENT & General Surgeon
Noted the history about your son with known borderline Perrie Robin;s syndrome having operated cleft palate and inserted with grommet in ears but develops recurrent infections with Staph aureus and Pseudomonas, wants to have air travel hence wants to know whether he can fly.
My thoughts:
Since grommets have been inserted they are working as Eustachian tubes to equalise the atmospheric pressure and pressure in middle ear.
- Hence no worry for air travel.
- Proper evaluation by an ENT Surgeon to find the reason of recurrent ear infection.
- ENT Endoscopy.
- MRI of the nose and sinuses,
- Pus from ear to be sent for gram staining, culture and sensitivity which can give best possible choice as a cause and have proper management.
- CT scan or MRI of the mastoids to know the status of bones and antral cavity.
- To use face mask when going in public or anywhere outside home.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. T. Chandrakant, ENT & General Surgeon
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