Related Experiment Videos
Pseudoephedrine and air travel-associated ear pain in children
B J Buchanan1, J Hoagland, P R Fischer
1Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, USA.
Insights
Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride did not reduce ear pain in children during air travel. This medication was associated with increased drowsiness in young travelers, highlighting the need for alternative strategies to manage in-flight ear discomfort.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric medicine
- Pharmacology
- Aerospace medicine
Background:
- Children frequently experience ear pain during airplane travel, particularly during ascent and descent.
- Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride is effective for adults with recurrent ear pain during air travel, but its use in children remains unstudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of using pseudoephedrine hydrochloride as a preventive measure for ear pain in children during air travel.
Main Methods:
- A placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial was conducted.
- Participants included children aged 6 months to 6 years.
- Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg) or a placebo was given 30–60 minutes before flights, with caregivers recording ear pain, drowsiness, and excitability.
Main Results:
- Ear pain occurred in 14% of 91 flights involving 50 children, unrelated to prior history or recent infections.
- Pseudoephedrine did not significantly decrease ear pain during ascent or descent compared to placebo.
- Drowsiness was significantly more common with pseudoephedrine at takeoff (60% vs. 27% placebo, P = .003).
Conclusions:
- In-flight ear pain is common in children on commercial flights.
- Pre-flight administration of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride does not prevent ear pain in children during air travel.
- Pseudoephedrine use in children is associated with an increased incidence of drowsiness.
Background:
Young children often appear bothered by ear pain during ascent and descent while traveling on commercial airplanes. While pseudoephedrine hydrochloride is effective in decreasing the risk for earache in adults with recurrent air travel-associated ear pain, such use in children has not been studied.
Objective:
To assess the efficacy and side effects of prophylactic pseudoephedrine in children traveling by air.
Design:
A placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial.
Subjects And Methods:
Children aged 6 months to 6 years were included in this study. Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg body weight) or placebo was administered 30 to 60 minutes prior to departure on commercial air flights. Caregivers noted historical details and the degree of apparent ear pain, drowsiness, and excitability with ascent and descent.
Results:
Ninety-one flights involving 50 children were studied, with ear pain being reported in 13 (14%) of flights. Ear pain was not associated with a history of air travel-associated ear pain, recent ear infection, or recent upper airway symptoms. Pseudoephedrine use was not associated with a decrease in ear pain during either ascent (4% with pseudoephedrine vs 5% with placebo; P approximately 1.00) or descent (12% with pseudoephedrine vs. 13% with placebo; P approximately 1.00). Pseudoephedrine use was, however, linked to drowsiness at takeoff (60% with pseudoephedrine vs. 27% with placebo; P = .003) but not at landing (P = .39). Treatment was not associated with excitability at takeoff (P = .09) or landing (P approximately 1.00).
Conclusions:
Ear pain is not uncommon in children traveling by commercial aircraft. The predeparture use of pseudoephedrine does not decrease the risk for in-flight ear pain in children but is associated with drowsiness.