Fluid often builds up inside the ear during a cold or allergies. Usually the fluid drains away, but sometimes a small tube in the ear, called the eustachian tube, stays blocked for months. Symptoms of fluid buildup may include: Popping, ringing, or a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to drain fluid from your middle ear at home. Such home remedies include applying a warm compress, inhaling steam, popping your ears, and a technique known as the Valsalva maneuver. Over-the-counter medicines may also help.
Most cases of otitis media with effusion go away on their own in a few weeks or months. Treatment may speed up the process. Most children don't have any long-term effects to their ears, their hearing, or their speaking ability. This is the case even if they had fluid build-up in their ears for a long time.
In most cases, the fluid clears up within a few months without treatment. You may need more tests if the fluid does not clear up after 3 months. For adults, decongestants that you take by mouth or spray into your nose may be helpful.
A very rare and serious complication of a middle ear infection is meningitis. This can occur if the infection spreads to the protective outer layer of the brain and spinal cord (the meninges). Symptoms of meningitis can include: severe headache.
Pseudoephedrine is used to relieve nasal or sinus congestion caused by the common cold, sinusitis, and hay fever and other respiratory allergies. It is also used to relieve ear congestion caused by ear inflammation or infection.
A few drops of rubbing alcohol or a mixture of one part vinegar and one part alcohol can help dry out the ears. Many drugstores sell packaged ear drops that are designed to remove water from the ears. If someone has a hole in their eardrum, they should not use ear drops.
Close your mouth, hold your nose, and gently blow as if you are blowing your nose. Yawning and chewing gum also may help. You may hear or feel a "pop" when the tubes open to make the pressure equal between the inside and outside of your ears.
This can happen for brief periods during air travel, but also due to allergies, sinus or ear infections, or other respiratory viruses (including COVID-19). Sudden onset of muffled hearing in one ear may signal an urgent problem requiring prompt treatment to prevent or reduce possible hearing loss.
If your ears won't pop you might have fluid in your ears. Thickened fluid blocks the auditory tube and prevents the fluid from draining into the back of the throat. Sometimes this is caused by an ear infection.
Ear drops alone will clear a plug of earwax in most cases. Put 2 or 3 drops of ordinary olive oil down the ear 2 or 3 times a day for 2-3 weeks. This softens the wax so that it then runs out of its own accord without harming the ear. You can continue for any length of time, but 3 weeks is usually enough.
Diagnosing Obstructive Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Over time, negative pressure can build up in the ear, causing pain, ear fullness and muffled hearing. When this occurs, sometimes your doctor can see the ear drum (tympanic membrane) change shape due to this pressure and become concave.
If your Eustachian tube is blocked, it'll lead to Eustachian tube dysfunction. You may hear a muffled sound and feel like your ears are plugged. This can feel like water in the ear, but way deep inside. This usually shows up after you have had an upper respiratory infection that caused a lot of mucous near the ears.
It happens most often after an ear infection (otitis media) but can also happen without a preceding infection. It tends to go away by itself but if your child has certain symptoms, then you will need to see a doctor. Fluid in the ear is common, especially in children aged 2 years and younger. It is rare after age 8.
People with an acoustic neuroma might have a sensation of fullness in the ear, as if water is in it. This sensation is typically caused by the hearing loss from the tumor.
Symptoms of Fluid in the Ear
Ears that feel "plugged up" or fullness in the ears. Increasing ear pain when changing altitude; not being able to "pop" the ears. Ringing in the ears (tinnitus ) Hearing loss or muffled hearing.
Untreated infections or infections that don't respond well to treatment can spread to nearby tissues. Infection of the mastoid, the bony protrusion behind the ear, is called mastoiditis. This infection can result in damage to the bone and the formation of pus-filled cysts.
The fluid can cause a mild hearing loss for a short time. It will slowly get better and go away with the antibiotic. The fluid is no longer infected, but sometimes, may take weeks to go away. In 90% of children, it clears up by itself over 1 to 2 months.
See your doctor if you notice any fluid leaking from your ear, especially if you have a fever, hearing loss or dizziness or if your ear is red and swollen. You may be advised to keep your ears dry. Don't clean your ears with cotton buds or put anything into your ears.
Pseudoephedrine is used to relieve nasal or sinus congestion caused by the common cold, sinusitis, and hay fever and other respiratory allergies. It is also used to relieve ear congestion caused by ear inflammation or infection.
An instrument called a pneumatic otoscope is often the only specialized tool a doctor needs to diagnose an ear infection. This instrument enables the doctor to look in the ear and judge whether there is fluid behind the eardrum. With the pneumatic otoscope, the doctor gently puffs air against the eardrum.