When water gets into your ears it can be extremely annoying, but you don't have to live with this problem. Although the liquid usually tends to leak spontaneously, you can facilitate the process by using simple methods. Try to drain it by using a few maneuvers that you can easily do on your own. Alternatively, let it evaporate with ear drops or a hairdryer. If you suspect an infection, see your doctor for treatment.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Dry the Ears
Step 1. Clean your ears with hydrogen peroxide
Fill half the dropper with hydrogen peroxide. Tilt your head so that the affected ear is facing up, then introduce a few drops inside. Once the crepitus stops (usually within 5 minutes), tilt your head to the opposite side so that the affected ear is facing down. Pull the earlobe to help the ear drain the liquid stuck inside.
Advise:
Hydrogen peroxide promotes the evaporation of the liquid and, at the same time, dissolves the earwax that could keep it trapped.
Step 2. Apply the ear drops
You can find them in the pharmacy. They usually come with a dropper, otherwise you can buy it at the pharmacy. Alternatively, try making a drying ear solution using equal parts white vinegar and isopropyl alcohol.
How to Use Ear Drops
Keep them at room temperature:
if they are too hot or too cold they can cause dizziness, so put them in your pocket for thirty minutes to bring them to the right temperature.
Read the instructions:
Always consult the instructions in the package insert, including any side effects that may occur.
Check the expiration date:
do not use them if they have expired.
Ask a friend for help:
it's not easy to put them in your ear, so ask someone to help you.
For adults and teenagers:
rest your head on a towel with the affected ear facing up. Ask a person to gently pull the earlobe outward while holding it upward and then apply the indicated number of drops into the ear canal. Next, ask him to press the flap in his hand towards his ear to push the solution in, then wait 1-2 minutes.
For children:
invite the child to rest his head on a towel with the affected ear facing up. Gently pull the earlobe outward while holding it down at the same time, in order to align the ear canal and administer the right amount of drops. Press the flap in your hand towards your ear and wait 2-3 minutes.
If fluid is present in both ears:
wait about 5 minutes or plug the treated ear with a cotton ball before moving on to the other.
Step 3. Use the hair dryer
Turn on the hairdryer by selecting the lowest temperature and ventilation. Hold it 15 cm from your ear and let the air get inside so that some of the liquid trapped in the ear canal evaporates.
Step 4. Dry the outer ear with a towel after swimming and showering
Do not put it inside. Just wipe off the surface moisture to prevent water from accumulating in your ear.
Step 5. Do not use cotton swabs or tissues
They can irritate and injure the ears, increasing the risk of developing an infection. Rather, if you can't remove the water yourself, see your doctor.
Part 2 of 3: Discard the Liquid
Step 1. Stretch the outer part of the ear with the head tilted
Keep the affected ear facing the floor. Pull the earlobe and pinna in various directions to open the ear canal. You will likely feel the liquid as it escapes. If necessary, repeat the operation on the other side.
This is a great way to get rid of water after swimming or showering
Step 2. Vacuum the liquid
Place the palm of your hand over your ear. Press a few times before removing it. Lower your ear so that the water can drain out.
Step 3. Relieve pressure with the Valsalva maneuver
Take a breath and hold the air. Plug the nose with two fingers and blow by pushing the air into the Eustachian tubes. If it works, you should hear a faint sound, like a bubble bursting. Tilt your head with the affected ear facing the floor to let the liquid out.
- Avoid this maneuver if you think you have an ear infection.
- Blow gently. If you are too violent, however, you could cause a nosebleed.
Step 4. Plug your nose and yawn to push the liquid down your throat
Block your nostrils between your fingers. Do a few deep yawns in a row - this way the liquid could flow from the ears to the throat.
Step 5. Rest your head with the affected ear facing down
Lie on your side, placing your ear on top of a towel, pillow, or cloth. After a few minutes it may begin to drain the water. You can also take a nap or try this method in the evening when you need to sleep.
Step 6. Chew gum or something to eat
Chewing often causes the Eustachian tubes to open. Tilt your head as you chew to encourage liquid to come out of your ears. If you don't have gum on hand or anything to eat, you can simply try to pretend to chew.
You can also try sucking on a hard candy to achieve the same result
Step 7. Use steam
Sometimes a long hot shower is enough to expel the liquid trapped in the ear. However, even a simple steam treatment could make it easier to escape. Pour the hot water into a basin, lean towards the bowl and cover your head with a towel. Inhale the steam for 5-10 minutes, then tilt the affected ear sideways to allow the liquid to drain.
Steam treatment
Fill a basin with boiling water. If you prefer, add a few drops of essential oil with anti-inflammatory properties, such as chamomile or tea tree oil. Place a towel on your head and approach the bowl, inhaling the steam for 5-10 minutes. Then tilt the affected ear to the side and drain the liquid into the basin.
Warning:
always be careful when using steam, as you could burn yourself. Before approaching your face, try holding one hand over the water bowl to see if the temperature is suitable.
Part 3 of 3: Treating the Causes
Step 1. Take decongestant medication if you suffer from sinusitis or have a cold
It will favor the natural outflow of liquid from the ears. Take it following the instructions on the package insert. You can use a decongestant based on pseudoephedrine or oximetazoline, in the form of tablets or sprays.
Decongestants are not for everyone
Unfortunately they involve risks for some people. In this case, if you need it, consult your doctor before use.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding:
in general, there are no risks for pregnant or breastfeeding women, as long as use is not prolonged. However, not all decongestant drugs are the same; ask your doctor for the one that best suits your health condition.
Drug interactions:
it is possible that they interact negatively with other drugs.
Diabetes:
tend to cause blood sugar to rise.
Hypertension:
the action of these drugs constrict blood vessels, relieving nasal congestion, but can spread to the vascular system causing blood pressure to rise. Opt for a cold medicine specially formulated for patients with hypertension
Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism:
pseudoephedrine, the active ingredient of the most common decongestants, can aggravate many symptoms of both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
Glaucoma:
generally, decongestants have little impact on the most common form of glaucoma, the open angle. However, those with narrow-angle glaucoma should be careful, as they can promote dilation of the pupil and obstruction of the chamber angle.
Step 2. Get a medical examination if your ears don't get unclogged after 3-4 days
Your doctor may prescribe cortisone tablets (for example Prednisone or Medrol). Take them according to his instructions. The problem usually clears up within 3-4 days.
Cortisone relieves inflammation in the Eustachian tubes by favoring the expulsion of liquid
Step 3. Take antibiotics as directed by your doctor
Antibiotics are especially important for children, but they are also useful for adults. They cure any ongoing infection and prevent the onset of other infectious processes.
Step 4. See your doctor if fluid builds up in your ear in the absence of a cold
If there is inexplicably fluid in only one ear, it may indicate the growth of a mass, such as a benign neoplasm. Ask your doctor if he can recommend an otolaryngologist. The latter will undergo all the necessary tests to identify any cancer.
The ENT will start by inspecting your ear and prescribe blood tests. If he suspects a malignancy, he will give you a local anesthetic and take a tissue sample for examination. He may also prescribe an MRI scan
Step 5. Go for surgery if the fluid cannot be removed otherwise
Since the ear will take some time to completely dry out, the ENT may recommend a trans-tympanic drainage which involves inserting a small ventilation tube into the ear, which will be removed on an outpatient basis. once the ear is healed. The otorine will continue to monitor the ear to make sure it is in good condition after surgery.
- The ventilation tube is usually left in children for 4-6 months, while in adults 4-6 weeks may be enough.
- The surgery is preferably performed under general anesthesia, on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Often the drainage tube is left in place until spontaneous expulsion or can be removed without anesthesia at the doctor's office.
Advice
- Most of the time the liquid comes out naturally from the ear. If it does not happen after 3-4 days, consult your doctor, otherwise if it stagnates it can favor the onset of an infection.
- If you suspect fluid in your child's ears, take them to the doctor for proper treatment.
