my ears are plugged..will an antibiotic get rid of the fluid? or is it not always an infection? thanks?

Question

the temperature in my house has been around 55 in the winter..can that cause ear problems too?

Answer 1

The fluid in your ears can be completely different then an infection. If it was an infection (which sometimes causes effusion or fluid) would definitely be accompanied with pain. Most of the time you have blockage and sometimes pain on your neck below the ear is caused by a viral source. With this, antibiotics doesn't help, only time will make it better. I recommend sudafed (you now have to ask the pharmacist in most states) or try a nasal saline spray (since the nose and ear tracks are close and helps drain each other).

Answer 2

OK I have been dealing with this my entire life.
Assuming you dont have swimmers ear, you have otitis media or an ear infection.
Bacteria gets into the middle ear and the reaction swells the tube that connects your ear to your throat (the thing that makes your ears pop to equalize pressure..the eustacian tube) shut and the infection multiplies until the infection runs it's course or your ear drum perforates (pops like a balloon. Trust me on this it's incredibly painful!!).
Your first step should be a decongestant (sudafed works great). If that doesn't work you need to get to a doctor for antibiotics. If this happens a lot the doc will want to put in P and E tubes. PLEASE do not let him put them in without putting you to sleep first. Locals dont work and is super painful.
When I was growing up the only treatment for my ear infections was peroxide. It felt good and cleaned the gunk out but its not a great idea. As a result it cost me 90% of my hearing.
So. you really need to give it all your attention when you get an infection,. Get treated for it at once. Don't let it take your hearing away.
Good luck
Eddie

Answer 3

Usually an decongestant can unplug your ears also.....but only if it has fluid in the inner ear. Something like a nasal spray, or sudafed would work. Follow the label directions. It won't work if there is an infection, or if your ears are plugged with wax. A temperature of 55 is a little cold for the winter time, especially if you have children. You may want to consider warming it up to at least 65. Best of luck to you.

Answer 4

If your ear feels blocked and you are noticing a hearing loss, here are the possible explanations (please note, you may have more than one of these problems):
Wax impaction (or other foreign body... such as wax from an ear candle)
Infection of the ear canal skin ("swimmer's ear"... but usually, you would also have a lot of pain with swimmer's ear)
Inflammation of the ear drum
Middle ear infection and/or middle ear fluid
Eustachian tube dysfunction
Occasionally, a large perforation of the ear drum could give both a hearing loss and (paradoxically) a blocked sensation
Finally, a low frequency hearing loss can cause a plugged feeling
Unfortunately, the only way to diagnose your problem is for someone with intelligent eyes to LOOK, so you may have to wait until your July appointment for an answer. Can you see a regular doctor sooner? At the very least, I would try to keep water out of the troubled ear until someone gets a chance to examine it. Put a cotton-and-vaseline ear plug (rub the vaseline into the cotton ball) into your ear when you bathe.

Answer 5

This is an old question but its appearing at the top of a google search for sudafed + middle ear. Antibiotics do NOT work on viral infections, you have that back to front. They ONLY work for bacterial problems.

Answer 6

Antibiotics ONLY work if it's a viral infection (not bacterial or anything else). Ear infections are usually viral in this case if yours is viral a antibiotic (usually zithromax) will be prescribed by your dr to clear it up (unless you are allergic to it). If you ears are just clogged or plugged drugs wont work. If your sinuses are draining from a cold, some of that drainage can go to your ears. You'll have to make an appt with your dr to know if you have an ear infection or not. Here's a hint...usually ear infections make your ear hurt in the inside, causing a burning feeling, headache and a temp. If you dont have these symptoms, my guess is that they are just clogged with ear wax. You can try Debrox (wax removal) from any drug store or Walmart, Target, ect.

Answer 7

It can be allergies, excessive wax, getting water in the ears...