Fluid build-up
in the ears is a common condition in young children and also afflicts adults. Fluid in the ears can be caused by an infection, allergies, a cold, the flu or a drastic change in air pressure that's often experienced on airplanes. Fortunately, there are several ways to drain the ears and alleviate the problem.
Decongestants and Other Remedies
Fluid in the ears is fluid that pools in the middle ear and blocks the Eustachian tube, which connects the ear to the back of the throat. The fluid muffles hearing by creating a barrier between the outer and inner ear, and can also be painful and cause dizziness. Decongestants are usually an effective way to treat mild cases of fluid build-up by drying out the sinuses and Eustachian tubes. There are also topical treatments available in most drug stores that treat water build-up in the ear, also known as "swimmer's ear."
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are prescribed in instances when fluid build-up is caused by infections like otitis media, which triggers the production of fluid as the body attempts to flush the infection out. Otitis media affects 75 percent of children by age 3 and also affects some adults. Once treated with antibiotics, the vast majority of infections clears up in two or three days and the fluid drains away on its own.
Draining the Ear
In cases where fluid build-up does not respond to decongestants, antibiotics or the passage of time, a doctor may decide to manually drain the ears. For children, doctors make a small incision in the eardrum and insert a small plastic tube that ventilates the middle ear and dries it out. The tubes prevent a recurrence of the problem and typically come out on their own after six to 12 months. For adults, doctors will perform a similar procedure and drain fluid out of the middle ear manually. Doctors resort to tubes or draining only if the ears remain plugged for more than three months.
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