How to Remove Fluid in the Ear

Stagnant fluid in the ear is one of the major causes of middle ear infections, also known as acute otitis media (OM). Otitis media occurs when fluid (usually pus) appears in the inner ear, causing the eardrum to become red and painful, sometimes accompanied by a fever. However, sometimes fluid remains in the ear even after the inflammation is gone; This condition is called otitis media with fluid retention (OME). In general, children are more prone to ear infections and fluid accumulation in the ears than adults. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to the source} Several home remedies can help get rid of fluid in the ear, although the fluid will clear up on its own in most cases. However, treating the underlying cause remains the most important step. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Table of Contents

Diagnostic

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Note the obvious symptoms associated with the ear. The most common manifestations of acute otitis media (OM) and otitis media with effusion (OME) include: ear pain or tugging at the ear (if the child is not yet known for pain), irritability, fever, even vomit. ^{[3] X Source of Research} In addition, it is possible that a child will not be able to eat, drink or sleep as usual, because the pressure in the ear will change and cause pain when the child lies, chews or sucks. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Note that children between three months and two years of age have the most frequent ear infections and fluid accumulation in the ears. Parents or caregivers should provide as much information and medical history as possible. As such, it is important to carefully monitor and note any symptoms.
Know that OME often has no symptoms. Some people may have a feeling of fullness or “pop” in their ears. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
Seek medical attention as soon as you notice fluid, pus, or blood coming out of your ear. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Watch for symptoms associated with the “common cold. ” Ear infections are often thought of as secondary infections after the “common cold” or primary infection. You should monitor for a few days for symptoms such as runny nose, stuffy nose, cough, sore throat and low-grade fever, all typical symptoms of the flu.

Most colds and flus are caused by a viral infection, so you usually don’t need to seek medical attention as there is no cure for a viral infection. Seek medical attention only when fever cannot be reduced with usual doses of Tylenp or Motrin (and body temperature rises to 38.9°C). You need to watch for any flu symptoms because your doctor will need to know about the primary infection. The flu usually lasts only a week. You should see your doctor if your condition does not improve after a week.

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Watch for signs of hearing problems. OM and OME can interfere with sound, leading to hearing problems. Signs that affect hearing include: ^{[7] X Research Source}

Does not respond to small sounds or other noises
Need to turn up the TV or radio volume
Talking at an unusually loud volume
Not paying attention in general

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Understand possible complications. Most cases of ear infections do not lead to long-term complications and usually resolve on their own within two to three days. However, frequent inflammation and fluid retention in the ear can cause serious complications, including: ^{[8] X Reliable Source Mayo Clinic Go to source}

Hearing impairment — An ear infection can make it a little harder to hear, but more severe hearing loss can result from persistent ear infections or long-term fluid retention, which in some cases can lead to hearing loss. can damage the eardrum and inner ear. ^{[9] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Speech delay — In young children, hearing loss can lead to delayed speech development, especially when the child is not yet able to speak. ^{[10] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}
Disseminated infection — An infection that is left untreated or unresponsive to therapies can spread to other tissues and should be treated promptly. Mastoiditis is an infection that can cause the bone to protrude behind the ear. This condition not only damages the mastoid bone but also develops pus-filled tumors. In rare cases, severe otitis media can spread into the skull and affect the brain. ^{[11] X Research Source (Miyamoto, Richard, MD. MS The Merck Manual, 19th edition, revised December 2012)}
Tear of the eardrum —Sometimes an infection can puncture or tear the eardrum. ^{[12] X Source of Research} Most eardrum tears resolve on their own in about 3 days, with some cases requiring surgery. ^{[13] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Remove fluid from the ear

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Use a steroid nasal spray. This is a prescription medication that can help open the Eustachian tube. ^{[17] X Research Source} This drug works to reduce inflammation of the nose, thereby helping to open the eustachian tube. However, you should be aware that it takes a few days for the steroid to take full effect; That means you won’t get better right away. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

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Use a decongestant. Over-the-counter decongestants can clear the ear and help the fluid drain out. You can buy a nasal spray or an oral medication at most drugstores. Make sure to use according to the directions on the medicine label. ^{[19] X Research Source}^{[20] X Research Source}

The decongestant spray should not be used for more than three days at a time. This medicine, if used for a long time, can cause a “back effect” of swelling in the nasal cavity.
Although oral decongestants usually don’t “backward” swelling of the nasal passages, some people develop heart palpitations and increased blood pressure. ^{[21] X Research Source}
Children may be affected by other side effects such as hyperactivity, restlessness and insomnia.
Avoid decongestant sprays that contain zinc. This drug has been linked to a rare (though rare) permanent loss of smell. ^{[22] X Research Sources}^{[23] X Research Sources}
Consult your doctor before using any nasal decongestant spray or medication.

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Take an antihistamine. Some people find antihistamines effective, especially in long-standing cases of sinusitis, because they help relieve nasal congestion. ^{[24] X Research Source}

However, antihistamines can cause serious sinus side effects, including drying out the lining of the nasal tissue and thickening of secretions. ^{[25] X Research Sources}
Antihistamines are not recommended for uncomplicated sinusitis or ear infections. ^{[26] X Research Sources}
Other side effects include drowsiness, confusion, blurred vision, and possibly irritability and agitation in some children.

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Use steam therapy. Steam therapy at home can open the eustachian tube and help the fluid drain out. Everything you need is basically just a warm towel and hot water.

Fill the bowl with hot water. You can add herbs with anti-inflammatory effects to the water like tea tree or chamomile essential oil. Cover your head with a towel and let your ears soak in the steam. Avoid stretching your neck, and only cover with a towel for about 10-15 minutes. ^{[27] X Research Source}
You can also take a shower with very hot water, see if the steam can get the fluid out and out of the ear. Do not try this therapy on children, as they cannot tolerate extreme temperature changes.

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Use a hair dryer. Although controversial and scientifically unsupported, this method is known by word of mouth to be effective. Set the blowing mode to the lowest temperature about 30 cm from the ear. The goal here is to use warm, dry air to turn the liquid in the ear into a vapor and escape. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

Be careful not to burn your ears or face. Stop immediately if you feel pain or overheat.

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Use a humidifier. To help clear up an inflamed ear or improve sinus conditions, you can place a humidifier in your bedroom on your nightstand near your painful ear. This helps generate steam, and soothes and reduces fluid buildup in the ear. Humidifiers are very useful in winter because the air in the house is often very dry due to the action of the heater. ^{[29] X Research Source}^{[30] X Research Source}

Even a hot water bottle placed near the ear has the same effect and helps the fluid in the ear to drain out.
Cool mist humidifiers are recommended for children as they reduce the risk of burns or injury.

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Note that all of these methods have not been validated with scientific data. Most studies suggest that they have little or no effect. After all, most cases of inner ear fluid build up on their own, unless it’s due to a chronic illness or persistent ear infection. ^{[31] X Research Source}

However, these methods actually only treat the symptoms (such as fluid in the ear, congestion, etc.) but do not treat the main problem (such as acute otitis media, otitis media with fluid retention, congestion, etc.) or other problems in the eustachian tubes).

Cure ear infections and persistent fluid retention

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Please understand that there is no single best treatment. When determining your treatment regimen, your doctor will consider several factors such as your age, the type of infection, the severity and duration of the infection, the frequency of ear infections, and your medical history. , and whether the infection is causing hearing loss. ^{[32] X Research Sources}^{[33] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Use “wait and see” therapy. In most cases, the human immune system can repel and heal an ear infection in a short time (usually two to three days). ^{[34] X Source of Research} Since most ear infections go away on their own, many doctors advocate a “wait and see” treatment, that is, pain relievers alone, not antibiotics, to treat the inflammation. ^{[35] X Research Source}

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend a “wait and see” treatment for children six months to two years of age with pain in one ear, and for children over two years of age if one or more of the earaches are present. ears for at least two days and a temperature below 39°C. ^{[36] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Many doctors favor this treatment due to the inherent limitations of antibiotics, including the fact that antibiotics are often overused, causing bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics rapidly. Furthermore, antibiotics do not cure viral inflammation. ^{[37] X Research Source}

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Take antibiotics. If the infection doesn’t go away on its own, your doctor may prescribe 10 days of antibiotics to cure the infection and possibly relieve some symptoms. Commonly prescribed antibiotics include Amoxicillin and Zithromax (Zithromax is used in case of penicillin allergy). Antibiotics are usually prescribed for people with frequent infections or serious and extremely painful infections. ^{[38] X Source of Study}^{[39] X Source of Research} In most cases, antibiotics can clear fluid in the ear.

Children six years and older who are diagnosed with mild to moderate ear infections by a doctor may be prescribed antibiotics for a shorter period of time (5 to 7 days instead of 10 days). ^{[40] X Research Source}
Note that, although rare, benzocaine has been associated with a potentially fatal condition caused by hypoxia in the blood, especially in children under two years of age. Do not give benzocaine to children. Adults must use the correct dosage. Talk to your doctor about possible risks. ^{[41] X Research Source}

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Always adhere to the correct course of antibiotic treatment. Even if your symptoms have improved during antibiotic treatment, you still need to make sure you take the full prescribed dose of antibiotics. If you are prescribed antibiotics for 10 days, you need to take them for the full 10 days. However, you should monitor the improvement for 48 hours. A persistent high fever (37.8°C or higher) is a sign of resistance to a certain antibiotic and a different antibiotic may be ordered by your doctor.

Note that even after antibiotic treatment has been given, fluid can remain in the ear for months. You should visit your doctor after finishing your course of antibiotics to recheck the infection and determine if fluid is still present. Usually, your doctor will make an appointment for a follow-up visit about a week after the course of antibiotics is finished. ^{[42] X Research Source}

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Using the eardrum incision method. Ear surgery may be an option in cases of persistent fluid in the ear (more than three months after the inflammation has resolved or no inflammation), recurrent otitis media (three episodes in six). months or four episodes a year and occurs at least once within the past six months), or ear infections that occur frequently and do not go away with antibiotic treatment. The purpose of an eardrum incision is to drain fluid out of the middle ear and place a catheter in it. You will usually need to consult an ENT specialist to decide if this procedure is right for you. ^{[43] X Research sources (Current indications for tympanostomy tubes , American Journal of Otparyngpogy, 1994, Mar-April 15 (2) 1-3-8) [44] X Trusted}^{Source Mayo Clinic Go to source}

This is an outpatient surgery. An otolaryngologist will insert an ear catheter into the eardrum through a small incision. This procedure will help ventilate the ear, prevent further fluid from accumulating, and allow the fluid present in the middle ear to drain completely. ^{[45] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Some catheters stay in place for six months to two years and will fall out on their own. ^{[46] X Research Source Rosenfield, RM Schwartz, SR, Pynnon, MA et al Otparyngpogy Head and Neck Surgery 2013 July 149 (1 suppl) S1-35) Others are designed} to last longer and may require surgery. to take out. ^{[47] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
The eardrum will usually close on its own after the catheter falls out or is removed. ^{[48] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Pain relief

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Use warm compresses. Apply a warm, wet washcloth to the affected ear area to relieve pain and stinging. You can use any warm compress, such as a warm to hot washcloth, squeeze out the excess water and place it over your ear for immediate relief. ^{[50] X Source of Study} Make sure the water is not too hot, especially when using this method on children.

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Use pain relievers. Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylep) or ibuprofen (Motrin IB, Advil) to relieve pain and discomfort. ^{[51] X Source of Study} Use exactly as recommended on the label.

Use caution when giving aspirin to children or adolescents. Technically, aspirin is considered safe for children over the age of two. However, aspirin has recently been implicated in Reye’s syndrome, a rare disease that can cause severe liver and brain damage in adolescents recovering from chickenpox or the flu, so You need to be cautious when giving aspirin to minors. ^{[52] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source} Consult your doctor if you have any concerns. ^{[53] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Drops for earache. Your doctor may prescribe ear drops such as antipyrine-benzocaine-glycerin (Aurodex) to relieve pain, as long as the eardrum is not torn or perforated. ^{[54] X Research Source}

When giving ear drops to children, you should warm the medicine by submerging the vial in warm water. This is to avoid startling the child because the cold medicine drops into the ear. Have your child lie on a flat surface, with the sore ear facing you. Apply the medication according to the instructions on the label. Follow the recommended dosage and do not overdose. Do the same movement as a child for yourself or an adult. ^{[55] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Advice

In some cases, otitis media with effusion can occur without prior ear infection. Maybe the problem lies in the eustachian tube itself. ^{[56] X Research Sources}

Warning

Do not attempt to remove water from the ear with a cotton swab. This movement can push foreign objects deeper and damage the eardrum.

Steps