Ear diseases due to diving with an aqualung

Abstract

Due to the growing popularity of diving, more and more people suffer from injuries related to this activity and ear injuries are among the most common ones. During diving, dysfunction of both the external, middle and inner ear are likely to occur. Inflammation is the most common disease of the external ear, which, in most cases, requires only local treatment with ear drops. Barotrauma of the middle and inner ear may occur due to Eustachian tube failure and difficulties in equalizing underwater pressure, also manifested as hearing loss and dizziness. In most cases, conservative treatment is applied, however, under specific conditions such as perforation of the tympanic membrane or the presence of persistent perilymphatic fistulas, surgical treatment may be necessary. In the case of severe dizziness or hearing loss during ascent after diving at great depths, a preliminary diagnosis of inner ear decompression sickness should be made and the patient should be placed in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber as a matter of urgency.