Otitis Media with Effusion in Aircrew Members.

BACKGROUND: 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. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of otitis media with effusion in aircrew members and describe the time to resolution of the condition. METHODS: All aircrew members presenting at Civil Aviation Center at Congonhas Airport at São Paulo for annual flight medical examinations from September 2014 to May 2015 were reviewed retrospectively for the presence of otologic disorders. Eligible participants were all pilots, copilots, and flight attendants with a diagnosis of otitis media with effusion confirmed by immittance testing. RESULTS: Of 1607 aircrew members, 155 (9.65%) were diagnosed as having otitis media with effusion. Most participants were men (51.6%). Regarding aircrew position, 81.9% were flight attendants, 11.6% were copilots, and 6.5% were pilots. The mean time to resolution of the otitis media was 8.23 (± 3.02) days. DISCUSSION: Otolaryngologists must be aware of the effects of gas expansion in the middle ear at higher altitudes for the appropriate treatment of diseases related to pressure changes. The recommendation for an aircrew member to return to flying duties should occur only after the individual has been treated and complete resolution, confirmed by immittance testing, has been documented. Pinto JA, dos Santos Sobreira Nunes H, dos Santos RS, Cavallini A, Freitas G, Knoll D, Duarte C. Otitis media with effusion in aircrew members . Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2019; 90(5):462-465.