Fluid in an Ear

Having excess fluid in your ears can be frustrating and annoying. It may even become painful. Often, you can shake the fluid out of your ear and avoid complications. But when the fluid affects your hearing or your young child is fussing and pulling at an ear, call an expert at the Century Medical & Dental Center in New York City. Their ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists diagnose the cause of the fluid buildup and provide an effective solution. Don’t delay, call today for an appointment in Harlem, Manhattan or Brooklyn.

What Are Ear Fluids?

Ear fluid is any liquid that gathers in or drains from your ear. Fluids include pus, water and earwax. Some fluids in the ear are normal and even necessary for proper functioning. Ear wax, for example, protects your ear canal. Some fluids indicate signs of infection or allergy. Ear fluids are common, especially in children and people who are vulnerable to allergies.

Common types of ear fluid include:

• Serus fluid, which is a watery, thin liquid sometimes present in mild ear infections and allergies
• Purulent fluid, which is a thick, pus-like discharge that indicates a bacterial infection
• Bloody fluid, usually due to an ear injury or post-surgical drainage
• Clear fluid, related to cerebrospinal fluid, which leaks following a head injury

Untreated fluid in the ear may end in permanent hearing loss, so don’t delay getting it checked. If you feel fluid in your ear, consult an experienced ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist at the Century Medical & Dental Center. Receive effective, timely fluid in ear treatment at one of the convenient locations in Brooklyn, Harlem or Manhattan.

Why Do I Get Fluid in My Ear?

Ear fluids develop for several reasons, including minor and major medical conditions. One of the most common causes is a middle ear infection like otitis, where the fluid buildup is behind the eardrum due to a bacterial or viral infection. This can affect both children and adults.

Other causes of ear fluid include:

• Allergies and sinus infections
• Swimmer’s ear, called otitis externa
• Excessive ear wax
• Ruptured eardrum
• Water retention

While most causes of ear fluids are harmless, some rare factors may contribute to fluid in an ear, such as a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. This refers to a tear in the protective covering of your brain, which causes fluid to drain from your ear. CSF usually occurs after a head injury or surgery.

Other rare causes include:

• Tumors
• Autoimmune disorders
• Radiation therapy
• Cholesteatoma

A CSF leak can be life-threatening, as it increases the risk of meningitis. If, in addition to ear fluid, you have a high fever with ear pain, dizziness, body weakness and drainage, notify your NYC ENT immediately. Your ear specialist can save you from permanent hearing loss or vision problems by catching your condition early and starting fluid-in-ear treatment promptly.

What Are the Signs of Fluid in an Ear?

Ear fluid appears in various forms, depending on the cause and the underlying condition. Symptoms depend on whether the fluid collects in the outer, middle or inner ear.

Common symptoms include:

• Feeling like your ear is full or blocked
• Pressure in the ear
• Ear pain
• Crackling sounds every time you swallow or yawn
• Tinnitus or ringing in the ear
• Balance issues
• Fluid drainage that may be yellow, clear or pus-like
• Hearing your own voice loudly in your head

Children may display additional symptoms like irritability and crying due to discomfort, pulling at the ear, disturbed sleep or in some cases, delayed speech. Adults experience noticeable hearing loss, vertigo and a feeling of blockage.

Your ENT doctor uses diagnostic tools to determine your condition, including:

• Ear exam, called an otoscopy
• Tympanometry, a test measuring the movement of your eardrum
• A hearing test called an audiometry
• CT scan or MRI to rule out severe medical conditions, such as a CSF leak or tumor

What Are My Fluid-in-Ear Treatment Options?

Which ear fluid treatment your doctor recommends depends on how severe the condition is, what’s causing the buildup and how long you’ve had symptoms.

For mild cases, your Manhattan ENT specialist may recommend home remedies first, such as:

• Swallowing or chewing gum to open the Eustachian tubes so the fluid drains naturally
• Placing warm compresses over your ear or inhaling steam to reduce congestion
• Using over-the-counter eardrops to reduce wax buildup and promote fluid drainage, but not if your ear drum is ruptured
• Tilting your head to drain trapped water after showering or swimming

If your symptoms are severe, your Brooklyn ENT doctor may recommend medical treatment. If you have a bacterial infection causing the fluid buildup, you’re prescribed antibiotics to reduce the infection.

Other medical approaches include:

• Antihistamines, if you have allergy-related ear fluid
• Steroid nasal sprays that reduce inflammation and Eustachian tube blockages
• Myringotomy, a minor procedure to insert tubes into your ear to drain the fluid, which is a common approach for children with chronic ear infections
• Underlying medical condition treatment, to address fluid due to a sinus infection, sore throat or another medical issue like a tumor

What Are Potential Complications if My Ear Fluid Goes Untreated?

Untreated fluid in the ear leads to both short- and long-term complications. You can experiance temporary and even chronic hearing loss with prolonged fluid retention, especially in children while they’re developing speech.

Other potential complications may also include:

• Repeated ear infections
• Ruptured eardrum
• Spread of infection to surrounding areas

Ear fluid left untreated affects a child’s hearing, negatively affecting speech, language and cognitive skills. Fluid buildup causes learning disabilities, speech delays, social problems, emotional delays and balance issues. Adults can develop permanent hearing loss, sinus infections and more trapped fluid if an ear infection goes untreated.

How Can I Prevent the Bad Kind of Ear Fluid?

Prevention is better than treatment. To prevent ear fluid build-up, take care of little things. Ensure you use earplugs every time you go swimming and dry your ears thoroughly after showering.

Other prevention tips for avoiding excessive ear fluid include:

• Avoid sticking objects into your ear
• Treat allergies and sinus issues promptly
• Stay up-to-date on vaccinations
• Refrain from smoking
• Avoid secondhand smoke, as it irritates your Eustachian tubes

If you feel symptoms of ear fluid, remember it can damage your future hearing. New York City ENT specialists at the Century Medical & Dental Center provide urgent and affordable care to everyone. Contact the center today to eliminate your ear, nose and throat issues.

With more than a decade of experience, advanced diagnostic tools and convenient facilities, the Century Medical & Dental Center focuses on ensuring you and your family feel better and stay healthy. Their focus is providing affordable access to excellent healthcare.

In addition to fluid in the ears, they also treat other ENT issues, such as:

• Throat infections
• Sinus Infections
• Tinnitus
• Tonsillitis