Clogged ears?

[krcit]

My dd has had a terrible cold/cough for the last 10 days. Now she says her ear is really clogged. Anyone have any ideas on how to unclog it?

 

[WDWisTheBest]

My dd has had a terrible cold/cough for the last 10 days. Now she says her ear is really clogged. Anyone have any ideas on how to unclog it?

Yes. Go to the doctor as soon as possible. Don't mess around with this. In the meantime a hot water bottle covered with a towel will help with the discomfort. But, you need to see a doctor right away.

 

[krcit]

Yes. Go to the doctor as soon as possible. Don't mess around with this. In the meantime a hot water bottle covered with a towel will help with the discomfort. But, you need to see a doctor right away.

Really? is it an ear infection? She is fine other than cold symptoms. No fever or lethargy. It doesn't hurt, she just said it's annoying. I tried the Dr yesterday just for some suggestions but they were gone for the day.

 

[wdwmom2]

Two of the most common reasons of ears feeling clogged are ceremun impacation or fluid behind the eardrums.

Ceremun impacation is best resolved by seeing your doc and having them remove it. It is done by either using a loop to remove the wax, or by flushing the ears.

For fluid, I would try an antihistamine, like Benedryl. This helps by drying the fluid up. Of course, fluid laying around can turn into an ear infection.

If at any time your DD develops pain, or you don't feel comfortable with the situation, I would definitely make an appointment with her doc.

Hope she feels better soon!!!

ETA: because the symptoms with her ears started after getting a cold, my bet would be that there is fluid behind her eardrums.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You can try Sudafed to try and dry up the fluid & inflammation. It is a constant battle with my dd's.

We have small ear canals.

 

[Christine]

Really? is it an ear infection? She is fine other than cold symptoms. No fever or lethargy. It doesn't hurt, she just said it's annoying. I tried the Dr yesterday just for some suggestions but they were gone for the day.

This has happened to my mom after a really bad cold as well as my son.

Sudafed, sudafed, sudafed!!! The kind you have to get from the pharmacist. This is what my mom's doctor told her to do and it worked. Take it regularly (with the exception of nighttime if it bothers her sleep). You need to shrink the nasal passages and eustachian tube so things can drain.

 

[krcit]

Thanks everyone. She just said that when she blew her nose she felt 'stuff' drian from her ear into her nose. Yuck.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Really? is it an ear infection? She is fine other than cold symptoms. No fever or lethargy. It doesn't hurt, she just said it's annoying. I tried the Dr yesterday just for some suggestions but they were gone for the day.

There is no way to know if it is an ear infection other than observation by a medical professional, prefereably an ENT. But, it is likely that she could have a middle ear infection, known as otis media.

Now, if you can't get to a clinic for a definite diagnosis, you might ask your pharmacist for suggestions. One home treatment to investigate is nasal lavage through the use of a neti pot. Nasal saline irrigation is a home treatment that uses a salt and water solution to flush out the nasal cavity.

The "clogged ear" could be a clogged eustachian tube to the ear, or ears. That condition could be helped by nasal lavage. But, based upon your post, your child could possibly have an ear infection. But, that diagnosis has to be made by a doctor.

Hope this helps.

 

[krcit]

Thanks. I will call the Dr tomorrow

 

[BroganMc]

One thing I hate about winter is all the colds I get. And in the last few years they have led directly to ear infections.

Last year I had three colds in the month of December (did a lot of airplane travel so that wreaked havoc with my ears). I was on antibiotics until January.

It does sound like your DD has an ear infection. Very treatable. Definitely get her on antibiotics ASAP. If the infection advances, it gets painful. My worst ear infection the pain radiated down my neck and make it near impossible to sleep.

Usually you want to make sure you clean out your ears regularly. I do it after I wash my hair because the hot water loosens the wax. Don't use cotton swabs! They just push the wax down deeper into the ear until it gets hard and clumpy. There are ear drops you can get to soften the wax.

Antiobiotics will take care of your DDs clogged ear. If she has any wax build up as well, the doctor can flush it out with a peroxide/water solution. (Peroxide softens the wax and the warm water flushes it out.) Feels weird as the peroxide causes a bit of a bubbling feeling in the ear and once clear you feel like you have Bionic Hearing with all the clarity.

Next time your DD has a cold, it helps you take Zicam and lesson the severity of the symptoms. Also a decongestant can reduce the runny nose congestion enough to avoid an ear infection.

 

[mickeyboat]

I have had a clogged ear for almost a week. The first day I was dizzy and nauseated, but other than that I feel perfectly fine. I am assuming it is fluid in my tubes and that eventually it will work its way out. It is pretty annoying not being able to hear out of that ear, though.

 

[Micca]

There is no way to know if it is an ear infection other than observation by a medical professional, prefereably an ENT. But, it is likely that she could have a middle ear infection, known as otis media.
QUOTE]


Otis media is also evident when TBS runs old Andy Griffith show episodes.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Unfortunately when I was 35 I began to have ear infections. Yes, I know a bit late, but....

Anyway, when I get fluid in my ears, the docs put me on sudafed (not the PE kind....the kind you get from the pharmacist) and 12 hour afrin nasal spray. I take the sudafed for about 5 days and I use the afrin nose spray for about 3 days. Usually my ear feels much better by day 2 or day 3.

I agree tht you should consult with your pediatrician, but if he/she has no advice, then you can try this.

K

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I hope the OP gives us an update as to her DD's ear problems.

 

[krcit]

Hi. I put a call in to my friend(who is actually my ped's wife) asking what I should do. She said as long as dd has no pain or fever, I could just try the decongestants for a couple of days. DD says that it feels a bit less clogged today so I'll keep up the meds and see how she is tomorrow. believe me, I'll take her to the DR in a heartbeat if she felt pain or felt sick but I hate to go to the Dr's office with all those germy kids, lol. Thanks for your help

 

[Mom3girls]

When my 13yo daughter had trouble hearing from fluid in her ear, our pediatrician told my daughter to chew gum. The movement of the jaw would help. She also said to take decongestant for a few days. Strangely enough she also told us to have her lay across the bed with her head hanging over the side...sometimes the change of direction can help to loosen the fluid in the ear. We did all three things and she was feeling better in just a few days. If she has pain, definitely go see your doctor.

 

[krcit]

So I brought my dd in today because her ear was still clogged. She has an ear infection. I was suprised because she had no pain at all just a clogged feeling. Thanks for all the replies