A woman battles a severe ear infection before boarding her flight and wonders if it’s safe to get on the plane with her condition. Turns out, it might be riskier than she thinks.
TikToker Kelsey (@kels_at_claimed) sits at the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., boarding gate with noise-canceling headphones on. The now-viral video has amassed over 968,000 views since Feb. 8.
She chews gum and appears uncomfortable. On-screen text reads, “My face before boarding a 3.5 hour flight with a severe ear infection.”
The caption continues, “Send thoughts and prayers.”
In an email to BroBible, Kelsey says she took a decongestant before the flight and didn’t experience worsening pain in the air. However, she says her ear infection got worse in the days after her flight.
“My ear did get progressively worse with more sharp, shooting pains to the point of now having to see an ENT,” she shares.
Should You Fly If You Have An Ear Infection?
It can be difficult to maintain normal pressure in your ears when flying, even for travellers with otherwise healthy ears. And that normal popping sensation may add additional discomfort for those dealing with an ear infection, according to Healthline.
If someone flies with an ear infection, they may deal with symptoms like ear pain or vertigo. In rare but severe cases, unequal pressure in the ears could cause hearing loss or an eardrum rupture.
Because of the added risk of complications with an ear infection, it’s generally not the best idea to fly while you’re still healing if you can avoid it.
Healthline notes that flyers may benefit from taking a decongestant or an antihistamine before the flight to relieve some pressure.
When Has Flying With An Ear Infection Gone Wrong?
In the comments of Kelsey’s viral TikTok, other travelers share their own horror stories of dealing with complications after flying with an ear infection.
“My ear drum ruptured bc of this and i have been struggling with chronic ear infections and sinus infections since. The trip wasn’t worth it lol,” one shares.
Another writes, “I did that once without knowing I was like 7 and I still remember screaming in pain pls never do this.”
“Did this, ear drum burst, extreme pain after that Everytime I went on a flight and I travel often. Had to get tubes in my ears lol,” a third warns.
In a comment, Kelsey updates viewers on the experience. She writes, “I made it … barely.”
Others say that even sinus infections or other less severe congestion can cause “excruciating” pain midair.
“Just got the new flu before my wedding and flight and still sick as hell thought I was going to d** on that plane my body hurts so bad,” a commenter says.
“I went on a flight with a sinus infection and lost hearing in one of my ears for 24hrs. Had to have emergency steroid prescription. Will never do that again,” a second viewer writes.
“Flew home with an infection, wasn’t to bad taking off and when I was in the air, but coming down,” another comments. “OMG I sobbed with the pain it was excruciating and I have quite a high pain tolerance.”
@kels_at_claimed Send thoughts and prayers ❤️🙏. #airportlife #millennialmom #airportoutfit