May children with otitis media with effusion safely fly?

This study addresses the question of whether patients who fly with otitis media with effusion (OME) are at risk for the development of barotitis. Fourteen patients with otitis media with effusion were followed before and after air travel. No ear with OME became symptomatic, though two contralateral, previously "normal" ears did become symptomatic. An analysis of the physiology of this phenomenon is presented.