Water in the ear often occurs after bathing, showering or swimming. In the process, water settles in the ear canal and lingers there with a slight gurgling sound. Usually, the water runs off by itself after a few hours or days. The phenomenon is not an ear disease, but in severe cases it can lead to inflammation.
What is water in the ear?
The appearance of water in the ear includes over-flushing of the inner ear. The appearance of water in the ear includes a washover of the inner ear. This is when water gets trapped between the ear canal and the eardrum, builds up and cannot drain away. This affects people of all ages, from babies to senior citizens. Sports swimmers complain of this unpleasant phenomenon with above-average frequency. Water in the ear is not usually dangerous or associated with health consequences in people with healthy ears. Therefore, a harmless accumulation of water is not to be called an ear disease, but an annoying complaint. Typical symptoms are a slight gurgling in the ear and a feeling of numbness. Only if the fluid remains in the ear for a very long time and does not flow out again, it can lead to inflammations and infections damaging the hearing organ. The complaints are often intensified by earwax swelling up in the water. People with pre-damaged eardrums, for example after a middle ear infection, are particularly at risk.
Causes
Water accumulation in the ear occurs when water enters from the outside and becomes trapped in the ear canal. This does not run straight, but in two 2.5-centimeter-long convolutions. In the kinks of these coils, the water can accumulate and not drain freely for a while. Especially when the ears are surrounded by water during swimming and diving, this phenomenon occurs. Water also easily gets into the ear in the bathtub and in the shower. If a lot of earwax has also been deposited in the ear canal, it swells up in the water to form a thick lump. This leads to the formation of a plug, which additionally holds the water in the ear canal.
Diseases with this symptom
- Otitis media
Diagnosis and course
If, after contact of the ears with water in the ear canal, an unpleasant feeling of pressure develops, associated with gurgling and slight numbness, the diagnosis of water in the ear is usually correct. This is not a disease, but a temporary functional disorder. In most cases, the water retention disappears on its own after a few minutes or hours. If the water buildup between the ear canal and the eardrum is particularly intense, the appearance will persist for weeks or months if left untreated. In this case, bacteria and other impurities in the water can cause inflammation up to a severe infection. Such secondary diseases often develop after bathing in contaminated natural waters such as lakes, sea and rivers. Therefore, if water persists in the ear, an ear, nose and throat specialist should be consulted after three days at the latest.
Complications
While water in the ear can be very bothersome for a short time, it usually drains away on its own. However, there can be some complications from water in the ear. Common problem with water in the ear is earwax. The water often forms a kind of plug when there is too much earwax and clogs the whole ear. In such a case, the earwax plug should rather be removed by a doctor, since it can come to injuries of the auditory canal with self-initiatives with cotton swabs or even other aids. If the water flows particularly deep into the ear canal, it is often stuck and no longer flows off by itself. In such a case, it is advisable to have the ear examined by a doctor. If the water remains stuck in the ear for too long, it can cause inflammation of the inner ear, middle ear or even the eardrum. This can sometimes even have permanent effects on hearing. Another problem is the content of the water. Through the water, harmful pathogens, such as fungi or bacteria can be transported into the ear and settle there.
When should you go to the doctor?
In most cases, the patient does not need to see a doctor for water in the ear. This is especially the case if the water in the ear occurs after bathing or after a visit to the swimming pool.In this case, the water usually comes out of the ear again by itself and there are no further complaints. However, several hours may pass before the water comes out again. The affected person can also help the water to come out with slight movements and by bending the head. A doctor should be consulted if the water in the ear remains for a long period of time and does not come out on its own. Likewise, a visit to a doctor is necessary if there is pain or impaired hearing. This can be an inflammation or an infection, which must be examined by a doctor in any case. As a rule, an otolaryngologist can be consulted directly for this complaint.
Treatment and therapy
A treatment against the annoying water in the ear can be carried out in the initial stage with simple means itself. In many cases, the kangaroo method already helps. Here, the person plagued by a water plug in the ear stands on one leg and bounces vigorously up and down. At the same time, the head should be placed at an angle in the direction of the bouncing leg so that the water can drain away. This method works by applying counterpressure to the blocked ear canal. Sometimes just pulling the ears up or to the side is enough to clear them of water. Remedy can also be a strong short pressure on the targus, the small cartilage closure below the auricle. Briefly blowing warm air from a hairdryer into the ear canal dries out the water when methods of bouncing, pushing and pulling no longer help. The end of a paper handkerchief twisted into a fine nozzle can also be used to gently suck the water out of the ear. We strongly advise against trying to remove the water from the ear canal with a cotton swab. This pushes the plug of water and earwax even deeper into the ear canal and can damage the eardrum. If all home remedies are of no help and the water is still in the ear after a few days, a visit to the ear, nose and throat specialist is unavoidable. This frees the clogged hearing organ with the help of special instruments from the water.
Outlook and prognosis
As a rule, water in the ear represents only a harmless symptom, which also does not need to be treated by a doctor. Most often it occurs in patients after swimming in the sea or in the swimming pool, but in rare cases there may be water in the ear after showering. Usually, the water drains out of the ear on its own, so there is no further discomfort or complications. While the water is still in the ear, the affected person may experience an unpleasant sensation in the ear. In this case, it also helps to turn the head to the respective side or to use bouncing movements to remove the water from the ear. Further discomfort can occur if the water remains in the ear for a longer period of time. An inflammation can develop, which can lead to pain and, in the worst case, to hearing loss. Therefore, if the water remains in the ear for several days or the ear hurts, an ENT doctor must be consulted. Most of the time, even in this case, a simple treatment is possible.
Prevention
To prevent water from entering the ear, it is recommended to keep the head up when bathing or swimming and to avoid diving. In the shower, it is helpful to hold the auricles at an angle away from the water stream and to hold the head back when washing hair. Otherwise, waterproof earplugs for sports swimmers are an optimal prevention against water in the ear.
Here’s what you can do yourself
Against water in the ear help various home remedies and measures. Usually it is enough to bounce up and down a few times to remove the liquid from the ear canal. The Valsalva maneuver, which involves equalizing pressure, dissolves air bubbles in the ear canal and makes the water in the ear flow. Another option: gently pull on the earlobe. Usually the liquid then simply runs out of the ear or the water dries up. Accompanying this, air can be blown into the ear with a hair dryer on the lowest setting. If you don’t have any tools at hand, you can shape a cloth handkerchief into a grommet and soak up the liquid. Alternatively, a warm washcloth can be placed against the affected ear. The warmth opens the Eustachian tube and gives the accumulated fluid enough room to flow out of the ear. A proven home remedy is also rubbing alcohol.Given into the affected ear with a pipette, the alcohol kills the germs and dries out the water. Hydrogen peroxide, which is also placed in the ear canal with a pipette, also helps against trapped liquid. Other aids for water in the ear are ear candles and ear wax from the specialist trade. If these measures do not show the desired effect, a doctor should be consulted.