title: Ear and vestibular symptoms in train operators after sudden air pressure changes in trains.
abstract: A healthy 31-year-old train operator presented to our occupational health clinic reporting ear aches, headaches, dizziness, unsteadiness and even slight tinnitus. These symptoms first appeared when the patient started operating from a new train cabin. He described a sudden pressure gradient, experienced on some parts of the trajectory, which might have caused these problems. Although the cabins were equipped with a pressure equalising device, this was usually switched off because of the device creating an uncomfortable feeling in the cabin. The literature describes sudden pressure gradients as possible factors for passenger discomfort.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health, Corporate Prevention Services, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hugues M A
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Francois
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health, Corporate Prevention Services, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vantrappen
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0912-7780
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Van Rompaey
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environment and Health, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lode
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Godderis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000399:Air Pressure; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology*; D004433:Earache / Q000209:etiology*; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology; D014186:Transportation; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology*