can he fly with a ruptured eardrum?
Dr Jules Eden replies: He can fly with this problem. Because the drum has a hole in it, the air that expands as the plane goes up freely moves out of the middle ear through the new hole. Likewise on descent, air will be pulled in through the perforation so equalising the ear. After a drum rupture, it can take any length of time to heal, depending on how big the rupture is and any superseding infection – from a week to many months. To prevent infection, he must keep it dry, so no swimming or diving, and when in the shower a wax plug is useful to prevent water from dripping in. We are booked to go to Morocco next month for two weeks, and I have just found out that I am pregnant. Are there any precautions I should take when travelling, and are there any particular health risks to pregnant women in North Africa? When you go to Morocco, you will be in the first trimester of pregnancy. This is the period of the first third of foetal development, and a time when there is most risk. Take steps
