What is a hyperbaric chamber? What to know after explosion killed ...

The death of a 5-year-old boy Michigan boy is under investigation after a hyperbaric chamber exploded with the child inside, and while this medical device can help treat burns and other conditions, the tragedy shows that they can also be dangerous.

Police and fire officials in the Detroit suburb of Troy responded to the Oxford Center, a medical facility specializing in various therapies for children, around 8 a.m. Friday after getting a report about a boy being inside an exploding hyperbaric chamber. When authorities arrived, they found the boy from Royal Oak, Michigan, and his injured mother, Troy police said.

Oxford Center spokesman Andrew Kistner said in a statement to the Detroit Free Press − a part of the USA TODAY Network − that the cause of the explosion is unknown and that Friday was an "exceptionally difficult day for all of us."

The facility provides a range of therapies and treatments to children with numerous conditions, such as autism, cancers, ADHD, autoimmune diseases and several others, the center's website says.

The boy's death is drawing attention to hyperbaric chambers, which contain 100% oxygen, up to three times the amount that is inside a normal room, police said. That much oxygen being in a pressurized environment can make it extremely combustible, according to the department, which added that its "initial research shows that this type of incident is uncommon."

Here is what to know about hyperbaric chambers and the pros and cons of using this cutting-edge medical device.

What is a hyperbaric chamber?

A hyperbaric chamber is a highly pressurized chamber used during hyperbaric oxygen therapy, according to the Baltimore, Maryland-based Johns Hopkins Medicine. Typically, pressure is between 1.5 and 3 times greater than normal air pressure.

Initially, specialists used hyperbaric chambers to treat deep-sea divers suffering from decompression sickness, which is also called "the bends," Johns Hopkins says. Now the therapy is used to treat severe burns, various wounds and even carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Johns Hopkins.

While the therapy can be beneficial, "it has some risks," Johns Hopkins says. Aside from extreme cases like the explosion in Troy, the usual issues people encounter involve pressure changes, especially since sessions range anywhere from three minutes to two hours, according to Johns Hopkins.

Since pressure gets so high, people may experience discomfort while in the chamber, including ear pain and breathing difficulties, the health system said. Taking short breaks is recommended during therapy to allow patients to breathe normal air and prevent tissues in their bodies from taking in too much oxygen, Johns Hopkins says.

Before going into the chamber, patients should be cautious if they have certain types of lung diseases, a collapsed lung, a cold or fever, had recent ear surgery or injury, or suffer from claustrophobia, Johns Hopkins says.

What are the possible side effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

The possible side effects and complications of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, according to Johns Hopkins, include:

• Lung damage, including collapse of the lung
• Fluid buildup or bursting (rupture) of the middle ear
• Sinus damage
• Changes in vision, causing nearsightedness, which subsides days to weeks after the last treatment
• Oxygen poisoning, which can lead to lung failure, fluid in the lungs, or seizures. Seizures from oxygen poisoning don't normally cause brain damage
• Low blood sugar

What are the benefits of hyperbaric therapy?

Tami Peterson, the founder and CEO of the Oxford Center, learned about hyperbaric therapy after her daughter JeAnnah was diagnosed with viral encephalitis, according to the medical facility's website.

Before JeAnnah underwent the therapy to treat her condition, which is a viral infection that inflames the brain, she "went from a happy (and) functioning 9-year-old girl to functioning at the level of an 11-month-old infant in one day," the facility said.

Like JeAnnah, several other children and adults have undergone the therapy successfully. The therapy is done to remove trapped air bubbles, enhance the growth of new blood vessels and tissues, and support immune system activity, according to the Mayo Clinic.

"JeAnnah’s progress was miraculous," Peterson wrote in a blog post on the medical facility's website. "I got my daughter back."

Dr. Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist in New York, told USA TODAY last August that some evidence shows hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps to "improve those sort of physical wear and tears on our organ systems, like pulmonary function, cardiac function, renal kidney function and the musculoskeletal system.

"There are some good studies to show that exposing yourself to these higher concentrations of oxygen may be helpful in certain issues," he said.

What conditions can hyperbaric oxygen therapy treat?

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, here are some of the conditions hyperbaric oxygen therapy could treat:

• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Cyanide poisoning
• Injuries from crushing forces
• Gas gangrene, which is a form of gangrene in which gas collects in tissues
• Decompression sickness
• Sudden or traumatic poor blood flow in the arteries
• Certain types of wounds
• Skin grafts and flaps
• Infection in a bone called osteomyelitis
• Delayed radiation injury
• Osteonecrosis of the jaw
• A flesh-eating disease called necrotizing bacterial soft tissue infections (NSTIs)
• Air or gas bubbles trapped in a blood vessel (air or gas embolism)
• Long-term (chronic) infection called actinomycosis
• Diabetic wounds that are not healing correctly

Joe Namath, other figures have undergone hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath notably underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy after experiencing cognitive issues following his 13-year-long career in the National Football League (NFL), ESPN reported.

Namath began receiving treatments in 2012 at Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter, Florida, he told ESPN. After 120 trips into the facility's oxygen chambers, "Namath perceived extraordinary improvement in his brain function," according to the outlet.

Other athletes and celebrities have also stepped inside hyperbaric chambers and benefited from treatments, including comedian Jay Leno, "The Big Bang Theory" actress Mayim Bialik, singer Justin Bieber, retired tennis star Serena Williams, NBA superstar LeBron James, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, Olympian Michael Phelps and legendary golfer Tiger Woods, according to the Hyperbaric Oxygen Institute.