Effects of air or water pressure (including altitude and diving sickness)
Also known as: Effects of air pressure or water pressure, unspecified
General information only. Anpheros does not diagnose and does not recommend treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your situation. In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number).
In short
Barotrauma means injury to the body because of changes in barometric (air) or water pressure, and one common type happens to the ear. A change in altitude from flying in an airplane, driving in the mountains, or scuba diving may cause ear pain, a stuffed feeling, hearing loss, or dizziness. Divers can also get decompression sickness, which affects the whole body. Treatments for ear barotrauma include chewing gum and yawning to relieve the pressure, and medications such as decongestants may also help.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
Barotrauma means injury to your body because of changes in barometric (air) or water pressure. One common type happens to your ear. A change in altitude may cause your ears to hurt. This can happen if you are flying in an airplane, driving in the mountains, or scuba diving. Divers can also get decompression sickness, which affects the whole body.
Common symptoms of ear barotrauma include:
- Pain
- A feeling that your ears are stuffed
- Hearing loss
- Dizziness
Treatments for ear barotrauma include chewing gum and yawning to relieve the pressure. Medications such as decongestants may also help.
Next to it in ICD-10
- T64Aflatoxin and other mould toxins in food
- T65Toxic effects of other substances
- T66Effects of radiation
- T74Maltreatment syndromes (abuse and neglect)
- T76Effects of other external causes
- T82Complications of heart and blood vessel implants
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Effects of air or water pressure (including altitude and diving sickness)?
T70 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Effects of air or water pressure (including altitude and diving sickness)?
NF04.Z: Effects of air pressure or water pressure, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
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