Abstract
Otorhinolaryngological disorders through a questionnaire were investigated in 163 scuba divers (99 males and 64 females) over the period August, 1994 to December, 1995. Seventy-four cases (45.4% of the 163) had dived excessively as indicated by poor Eustachian tube function. Moreover, 14 cases (8.7%) of 161 had taken medication to perform valsalva's method more easily. During underwater navigation, earache, hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo (or dizziness) and sinus squeeze were reported in 95 cases (63.3%) of 150, 10 cases (6.7%) of 150, 13 cases (8.8%) of 147, 17 cases (11.4%) of 149 and 25 cases (16.4%) of 152, respectively. In surface navigation, the incidence of the same problems was 21 cases (14.7%) of 143, 5 cases (3.3%) of 150, 12 cases (8.1%) of 149, 21 cases (14.7%) of 143 and 11 cases (7.3%) of 150, respectively. Alternobaric facial palsy occurred in 6 cases (4.1%) of 148 after diving. Thirty-three cases (20.5%) of 161 visited the hospital because of otorhinolaryngological disorders related to scuba diving. The incidence of problems in divers who dived excessively and the number of hospital visits among those who dived excessively, were higher than those among other divers. In conclusion, divers should be advised to stop diving during conditions of tubal dysfunction owing to the common cold and so on.
