Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Fluid in the ear often occurs with an ear infection, especially in kids. The inflammation or congestion that blocks theeustachiantube, a small drainage passageway in your ear, can also be due to allergies or thecommon cold. Eardrum injuries, nasal polyps, or even teething in babies can cause fluid to build up in the ear.
The blockage traps fluid in the middle ear in the space behind the eardrum, leading to symptoms like muffled hearing and pressure or pain in the ear.Treatment options vary but can includeantibiotics. Some people may need to have tubes placed in the ears or surgery to remove their adenoids.
Symptomsof fluid in the ear can be mild or severe. Possible symptoms include:
Some people may experience ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or have balance problems due to dizziness orvertigo(the feeling like everything around you is spinning).
In children, fluid in the ears is common. About 75% of children will get fluid in their ears at some point before age 3.Additional signs of fluid in the ears of children can include:
Fluid in the ear may not be suspected until a small child exhibits issues like speech delay or difficulty with a hearing exam.
Is Otitis Media With Effusion (OME) an Ear Infection?
Common causes of fluid in the ear include:
Anyone can get fluid in their ears, including adults treated with radiation forhead and neck cancer.However, children have smaller auditory tubes that are more horizontal than in adults, which can encourage fluid to pool in the ear.
Earwax and Ear FluidWhite, yellow, or brown earwax is normal but it should only be a small amount. If ear discharge continues or has blood or pus in it, seek emergency care. It may be the sign of a rupturedeardrum.
Earwax and Ear Fluid
White, yellow, or brown earwax is normal but it should only be a small amount. If ear discharge continues or has blood or pus in it, seek emergency care. It may be the sign of a rupturedeardrum.
Fluid in the ear often goes undiagnosed because it may not cause any symptoms. To identify the cause, an ear, nose, and throat specialist (otolaryngologist) may have better training and diagnostic equipment than your pediatrician or other healthcare provider.
Tests include:
Keep in mind that neither exam can diagnose hearing loss but they can point to the need for additional tests.
Fluid in the ear usually drains on its own within a few weeks, but other treatments may be needed depending on the cause. Children who are at a higher risk of complications from fluid in the ears, including those with developmental delays, may need earlier treatment.
Possible treatments can include:
Antihistaminesmay help keep allergy symptoms andchronic sinusitisfrom clogging your ears, but they will not necessarily rid your ears of fluid that’s already there.
For adults, it can take up to three months for fluid in your ear to go away on its own.If you continue to have problems, your provider may consider additional causes or treatments.
Can You Treat Fluid in the Ear Naturally?No benefits have ever been shown for special diets, herbal remedies or special diets, chiropractic care, or other complementary or alternative medicine therapies.Research on the safety and effectiveness of these treatments for otitis media with effusion is limited.
Can You Treat Fluid in the Ear Naturally?
No benefits have ever been shown for special diets, herbal remedies or special diets, chiropractic care, or other complementary or alternative medicine therapies.Research on the safety and effectiveness of these treatments for otitis media with effusion is limited.
These steps may help to prevent fluid from collecting in the ear:
Vaccines That Can Reduce Ear InfectionsThepneumococcal vaccine(Prevnar) helps prevent the most common type of ear infection. Getting ayearly flu shotprevents illness that can lead to fluid in the ear.
Vaccines That Can Reduce Ear Infections
Thepneumococcal vaccine(Prevnar) helps prevent the most common type of ear infection. Getting ayearly flu shotprevents illness that can lead to fluid in the ear.
Summary
If you have symptoms, they may include pain, muffled hearing, or a feeling of fullness in your ear. Fluid in the ear may gradually go away on its own but other treatments might be needed. They include antibiotics if there is an infection or surgery to helpdrain itif the fluid buildup does not get better or gets worse.
Simple strategies may help prevent fluid buildup, such as avoiding irritants and allergens, washing your hands regularly, and staying up-to-date on vaccines.
13 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.Penn Medicine.Ear infection (middle ear).American Academy of Family Physicians.Otitis media (with effusion).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ear infection (otitis media).Hoberman A, Paradise JL, Rockette HE, Kearney DH, Bhatnagar S, Shope TR,et al.Shortened Antimicrobial Treatment for Acute Otitis Media in Young Children.N Engl J Med. 2016;375(25):2446-2456. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1606043Fruhner M. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.What is middle ear fluid and how can this impact my child?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.Brook I.Late side effects of radiation treatment for head and neck cancer.Radiat Oncol J. 2020;38(2):84-92. doi: 10.3857/roj.2020.00213Gao T, Li X, Hu J, et al.Management of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation: a comparative study.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2017;13:927-931. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S139631Rosenfeld RM, Tunkel DE, Schwartz SR, Anne S, Bishop CE, Chelius DC,et al.Clinical Practice Guideline: Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (Update).Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022;166(1_suppl):S1-S55. doi: 10.1177/01945998211065662Núñez-Batalla F, Jáudenes-Casaubón C, Sequí-Canet JM, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of otitis media with effusion: CODEPEH recommendations.Acta Otorrinolaringológica Española. 2019;70(1):36-46. doi:10.1016/j.otorri.2017.07.004American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.Treating and managing ear fluid.Marom T, Marchisio P, Tamir SO, et al.Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatment Options for Otitis Media: A Systematic Review.Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(6):e2695. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000002695Healthdirect.gov.Fluid from the ear.Additional ReadingMedline Plus.Otitis media with effusion.
13 Sources
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.Penn Medicine.Ear infection (middle ear).American Academy of Family Physicians.Otitis media (with effusion).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ear infection (otitis media).Hoberman A, Paradise JL, Rockette HE, Kearney DH, Bhatnagar S, Shope TR,et al.Shortened Antimicrobial Treatment for Acute Otitis Media in Young Children.N Engl J Med. 2016;375(25):2446-2456. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1606043Fruhner M. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.What is middle ear fluid and how can this impact my child?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.Brook I.Late side effects of radiation treatment for head and neck cancer.Radiat Oncol J. 2020;38(2):84-92. doi: 10.3857/roj.2020.00213Gao T, Li X, Hu J, et al.Management of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation: a comparative study.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2017;13:927-931. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S139631Rosenfeld RM, Tunkel DE, Schwartz SR, Anne S, Bishop CE, Chelius DC,et al.Clinical Practice Guideline: Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (Update).Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022;166(1_suppl):S1-S55. doi: 10.1177/01945998211065662Núñez-Batalla F, Jáudenes-Casaubón C, Sequí-Canet JM, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of otitis media with effusion: CODEPEH recommendations.Acta Otorrinolaringológica Española. 2019;70(1):36-46. doi:10.1016/j.otorri.2017.07.004American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.Treating and managing ear fluid.Marom T, Marchisio P, Tamir SO, et al.Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatment Options for Otitis Media: A Systematic Review.Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(6):e2695. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000002695Healthdirect.gov.Fluid from the ear.Additional ReadingMedline Plus.Otitis media with effusion.
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.
Penn Medicine.Ear infection (middle ear).American Academy of Family Physicians.Otitis media (with effusion).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ear infection (otitis media).Hoberman A, Paradise JL, Rockette HE, Kearney DH, Bhatnagar S, Shope TR,et al.Shortened Antimicrobial Treatment for Acute Otitis Media in Young Children.N Engl J Med. 2016;375(25):2446-2456. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1606043Fruhner M. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.What is middle ear fluid and how can this impact my child?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.Brook I.Late side effects of radiation treatment for head and neck cancer.Radiat Oncol J. 2020;38(2):84-92. doi: 10.3857/roj.2020.00213Gao T, Li X, Hu J, et al.Management of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation: a comparative study.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2017;13:927-931. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S139631Rosenfeld RM, Tunkel DE, Schwartz SR, Anne S, Bishop CE, Chelius DC,et al.Clinical Practice Guideline: Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (Update).Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022;166(1_suppl):S1-S55. doi: 10.1177/01945998211065662Núñez-Batalla F, Jáudenes-Casaubón C, Sequí-Canet JM, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of otitis media with effusion: CODEPEH recommendations.Acta Otorrinolaringológica Española. 2019;70(1):36-46. doi:10.1016/j.otorri.2017.07.004American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.Treating and managing ear fluid.Marom T, Marchisio P, Tamir SO, et al.Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatment Options for Otitis Media: A Systematic Review.Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(6):e2695. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000002695Healthdirect.gov.Fluid from the ear.
Penn Medicine.Ear infection (middle ear).
American Academy of Family Physicians.Otitis media (with effusion).
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ear infection (otitis media).
Hoberman A, Paradise JL, Rockette HE, Kearney DH, Bhatnagar S, Shope TR,et al.Shortened Antimicrobial Treatment for Acute Otitis Media in Young Children.N Engl J Med. 2016;375(25):2446-2456. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1606043
Fruhner M. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.What is middle ear fluid and how can this impact my child?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.
Brook I.Late side effects of radiation treatment for head and neck cancer.Radiat Oncol J. 2020;38(2):84-92. doi: 10.3857/roj.2020.00213
Gao T, Li X, Hu J, et al.Management of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation: a comparative study.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2017;13:927-931. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S139631
Rosenfeld RM, Tunkel DE, Schwartz SR, Anne S, Bishop CE, Chelius DC,et al.Clinical Practice Guideline: Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (Update).Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022;166(1_suppl):S1-S55. doi: 10.1177/01945998211065662
Núñez-Batalla F, Jáudenes-Casaubón C, Sequí-Canet JM, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of otitis media with effusion: CODEPEH recommendations.Acta Otorrinolaringológica Española. 2019;70(1):36-46. doi:10.1016/j.otorri.2017.07.004
American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.Treating and managing ear fluid.
Marom T, Marchisio P, Tamir SO, et al.Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatment Options for Otitis Media: A Systematic Review.Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(6):e2695. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000002695
Healthdirect.gov.Fluid from the ear.
Medline Plus.Otitis media with effusion.
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