Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow COVID Affects EarsCOVID as a CauseLong COVIDOther CausesDiagnosisWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How COVID Affects Ears
COVID as a Cause
Long COVID
Other Causes
Diagnosis
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Treatment
Long COVID can cause ear symptoms as well.Hearing lossand a ringing in the ears may show up after the infection has resolved. You could still get long COVID symptoms affecting your ear even if you didn’t have any othersymptoms of COVID-19.
Respiratory symptoms, like cough and labored breathing, may be the best-known symptoms of COVID, but they are not the only ones. Ear pain (otalgia) may occur around the ear or in the ear canal.In addition to earache, COVID can cause other ear symptoms such as:
Can COVID Cause an Ear Infection?
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, can cause ear infections. It can infect the inner ear as well as the middle ear. The inner ear is responsible for your sense of balance and hearing. Viral infections of the inner ear can cause balance and hearing problems in some people with COVID.
When the virus infects the middle ear, it can causeotitis media with effusion.This condition occurs when fluid builds up in the middle ear, creating an ideal environment for viruses or bacteria to multiply. With a middle ear infection, you may experience:
Hearing and/or balance problems appear to occur equally regardless of the variant of the virus you get infected with. In a 2022 study, the alpha/beta, delta, and omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 were equally likely to cause ear problems like fullness, hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness.
Risk Factors for Earache With COVIDRisk factors for an earache with COVID can include smoking, year-round orseasonal allergies, and a cold or respiratory infection. Earache can occur more often in children because of their smaller eustachian tubes, but many of these symptoms overlap.If you or your child are experiencing symptoms that you think could be either COVID or an ear infection, see your healthcare provider for diagnosis.
Risk Factors for Earache With COVID
Risk factors for an earache with COVID can include smoking, year-round orseasonal allergies, and a cold or respiratory infection. Earache can occur more often in children because of their smaller eustachian tubes, but many of these symptoms overlap.If you or your child are experiencing symptoms that you think could be either COVID or an ear infection, see your healthcare provider for diagnosis.
Long COVID and Ear Problems
Long COVIDrefers to any medical condition that lasts for four weeks or more after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection has resolved. The following ear symptoms may be a sign of long COVID:
Post-acute symptoms may last for three to 12 weeks, while chronic symptoms can last 12 weeks or more. COVID tests won’t likely show that you have COVID even though you may still be having long-lasting symptoms related to the virus.
Other COVID SymptomsEar problems aren’t the typical symptoms you would expect if you think you have COVID. More commonly, you may have one or more of the following symptoms:Fever or chillsCoughShortness of breath or difficulty breathingFatigue(feeling tired)Muscle or body achesHeadacheNewloss of taste or smellSore throatCongestion orrunny noseNausea or vomitingDiarrhea
Other COVID Symptoms
Ear problems aren’t the typical symptoms you would expect if you think you have COVID. More commonly, you may have one or more of the following symptoms:Fever or chillsCoughShortness of breath or difficulty breathingFatigue(feeling tired)Muscle or body achesHeadacheNewloss of taste or smellSore throatCongestion orrunny noseNausea or vomitingDiarrhea
Ear problems aren’t the typical symptoms you would expect if you think you have COVID. More commonly, you may have one or more of the following symptoms:
Other Causes of Ear Pain
SARS-CoV-2 is not the only infectious agent that can cause an ear infection. Other viruses and bacteria can infect the ear as well. The illness may start out as a seemingly benign cold or a respiratory infection.
While ear infections are more common in children, adults can get them too. A cold or allergy can cause inflammation and swelling of the eustachian tube. When this happens, fluid builds up behind the eardrum. Viruses and bacteria can multiply in this fluid, causing an infection of themiddle ear.
Given how variable both COVID-19 and ear infections can be, you shouldn’t try to self-diagnose. Both COVID-19 and an ear infection can cause similar symptoms likefeverand headaches.
If you think you have COVID or an ear infection, see a healthcare provider or an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist for:
See a healthcare provider if you have chronic (recurrent) ear infections, fluid that refuses to drain away, or symptoms that aren’t improving after two or three days. Get immediate medical treatment if you or someone else has these serious signs of COVID-19:
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COVID ear symptoms may go away on their own as your body works on getting rid of the virus. Long COVID, however, can cause symptoms to last for weeks, months, or even years after you recover.
See a healthcare provider or ENT specialist to get specific treatment for your ear symptoms. They can include:
Decongestants, antihistamines, or nasal steroids may be in order to help clear blockage.Pain medicationcan be used to alleviate discomfort.
Chronic ear infections that recur often or that present consistent fluid buildup in the middle ear may require treatment with ear tubes, which are small cylinders that are positioned through the eardrum to allow easy passage of air into the middle ear. They are inserted during an outpatient surgical procedure known as amyringotomy.
Summary
COVID-19 can lead to ear infections, causing symptoms like hearing loss, ringing in the ears, and fullness. It can also cause ear pain and dizziness. Sometimes ear symptoms go away on their own. In other cases, they may linger as a result of long COVID.
If you find yourself experiencing symptoms of either COVID-19 or an ear infection, consult your healthcare provider right away. It is important that you be tested for COVID-19 to prevent the spread of the virus.
An ear infection that doesn’t go away on its own and is left untreated can result in pain and hearing problems. If your symptoms become more extreme, seek medical attention right away.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
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17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jeong M, Ocwieja KE, Han D, et al.Direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of the human inner ear may underlie COVID-19-associated audiovestibular dysfunction.Commun Med. 2021;1(1):1-4. doi:10.1038/s43856-021-00044-wEngland-Kennedy ES, Abdelfatah M.Long COVID and COVID-induced Mèniére’s disease: Overview and recommendations.J Otolaryngol Rhinol. 2023;9:131. doi:10.23937/2572-4193.1510131Wu L, Peng H, He Y, Pu L, Zhong S.An online survey on clinical characteristics of otologic symptoms linked to COVID-19 infection.Front Public Health. 2023:11:1184262. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1184262Dorobisz K, Pazdro-Zastawny K, Misiak P, Kruk-Krzemień A, Zatoński T.Sensorineural hearing loss in patients with long-COVD-19: Objective and behavioral audiometric findings.Infect Drug Resist. 2023;16:1931-1939. doi:10.2147/IDR.S398126Jafari Z, Kolb BE, Mohajerani MH.Hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Can J Neurol Sci. 2022;49(2):184-195. doi:10.1017/cjn.2021.63Fan Y, Gao R, Shang Y, Tian X, Zhao Y, Chen X.Presence of SARS-CoV-2 in middle ear fluid and characterization of otitis media with effusion in patients with COVID-19.Int J Infect Dis. 2023;136:44-48. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2023.08.024MedlinePlus.Otitis media with effusion.Almishaal AA.Comparative study of audiovestibular symptoms between early and late variants of COVID-19.Audiol Res. 2022;12(6):680-695. doi:10.3390/audiolres12060065Aldè M, Di Berardino F, Ambrosetti U, Barozzi S, Piatti G, Zanetti D,et al.Audiological and vestibular symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5-11 years.Am J Otolaryngol. 2023 Jan-Feb;44(1):103669. doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2022.103669National Institutes of Health.Long COVID.Daker LI, Elshafei RR, Bahi M, Mohammed A, Erfan R, Gomaa M.Could vertigo be a post-COVID-19 sequela or presenting symptom?Eygpt J Neurol Psychiatr Neurosurg. 2023;59(1):65. doi:10.1186/s41983-023-00659-xCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Middle-ear infection in adults.MedlinePlus.Earache.Cooper University Health Care.COVID-19 and ear infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 testing: What you need to know.National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Tinnitus.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jeong M, Ocwieja KE, Han D, et al.Direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of the human inner ear may underlie COVID-19-associated audiovestibular dysfunction.Commun Med. 2021;1(1):1-4. doi:10.1038/s43856-021-00044-wEngland-Kennedy ES, Abdelfatah M.Long COVID and COVID-induced Mèniére’s disease: Overview and recommendations.J Otolaryngol Rhinol. 2023;9:131. doi:10.23937/2572-4193.1510131Wu L, Peng H, He Y, Pu L, Zhong S.An online survey on clinical characteristics of otologic symptoms linked to COVID-19 infection.Front Public Health. 2023:11:1184262. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1184262Dorobisz K, Pazdro-Zastawny K, Misiak P, Kruk-Krzemień A, Zatoński T.Sensorineural hearing loss in patients with long-COVD-19: Objective and behavioral audiometric findings.Infect Drug Resist. 2023;16:1931-1939. doi:10.2147/IDR.S398126Jafari Z, Kolb BE, Mohajerani MH.Hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Can J Neurol Sci. 2022;49(2):184-195. doi:10.1017/cjn.2021.63Fan Y, Gao R, Shang Y, Tian X, Zhao Y, Chen X.Presence of SARS-CoV-2 in middle ear fluid and characterization of otitis media with effusion in patients with COVID-19.Int J Infect Dis. 2023;136:44-48. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2023.08.024MedlinePlus.Otitis media with effusion.Almishaal AA.Comparative study of audiovestibular symptoms between early and late variants of COVID-19.Audiol Res. 2022;12(6):680-695. doi:10.3390/audiolres12060065Aldè M, Di Berardino F, Ambrosetti U, Barozzi S, Piatti G, Zanetti D,et al.Audiological and vestibular symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5-11 years.Am J Otolaryngol. 2023 Jan-Feb;44(1):103669. doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2022.103669National Institutes of Health.Long COVID.Daker LI, Elshafei RR, Bahi M, Mohammed A, Erfan R, Gomaa M.Could vertigo be a post-COVID-19 sequela or presenting symptom?Eygpt J Neurol Psychiatr Neurosurg. 2023;59(1):65. doi:10.1186/s41983-023-00659-xCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Middle-ear infection in adults.MedlinePlus.Earache.Cooper University Health Care.COVID-19 and ear infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 testing: What you need to know.National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Tinnitus.
Jeong M, Ocwieja KE, Han D, et al.Direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of the human inner ear may underlie COVID-19-associated audiovestibular dysfunction.Commun Med. 2021;1(1):1-4. doi:10.1038/s43856-021-00044-w
England-Kennedy ES, Abdelfatah M.Long COVID and COVID-induced Mèniére’s disease: Overview and recommendations.J Otolaryngol Rhinol. 2023;9:131. doi:10.23937/2572-4193.1510131
Wu L, Peng H, He Y, Pu L, Zhong S.An online survey on clinical characteristics of otologic symptoms linked to COVID-19 infection.Front Public Health. 2023:11:1184262. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1184262
Dorobisz K, Pazdro-Zastawny K, Misiak P, Kruk-Krzemień A, Zatoński T.Sensorineural hearing loss in patients with long-COVD-19: Objective and behavioral audiometric findings.Infect Drug Resist. 2023;16:1931-1939. doi:10.2147/IDR.S398126
Jafari Z, Kolb BE, Mohajerani MH.Hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Can J Neurol Sci. 2022;49(2):184-195. doi:10.1017/cjn.2021.63
Fan Y, Gao R, Shang Y, Tian X, Zhao Y, Chen X.Presence of SARS-CoV-2 in middle ear fluid and characterization of otitis media with effusion in patients with COVID-19.Int J Infect Dis. 2023;136:44-48. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2023.08.024
MedlinePlus.Otitis media with effusion.
Almishaal AA.Comparative study of audiovestibular symptoms between early and late variants of COVID-19.Audiol Res. 2022;12(6):680-695. doi:10.3390/audiolres12060065
Aldè M, Di Berardino F, Ambrosetti U, Barozzi S, Piatti G, Zanetti D,et al.Audiological and vestibular symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5-11 years.Am J Otolaryngol. 2023 Jan-Feb;44(1):103669. doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2022.103669
National Institutes of Health.Long COVID.
Daker LI, Elshafei RR, Bahi M, Mohammed A, Erfan R, Gomaa M.Could vertigo be a post-COVID-19 sequela or presenting symptom?Eygpt J Neurol Psychiatr Neurosurg. 2023;59(1):65. doi:10.1186/s41983-023-00659-x
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Middle-ear infection in adults.
MedlinePlus.Earache.
Cooper University Health Care.COVID-19 and ear infection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 testing: What you need to know.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Tinnitus.
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