Ear congestion can characterize many conditions. The combination of this symptom with pain in the ear is quite dangerous. Most often, this symptomatology is observed with otitis media. Usually, hearing loss, a violation of the general condition, an increase in body temperature up to 39 degrees are added to these symptoms.
All this aggravates the patient's condition, and requires urgent measures. In addition, without timely and correct treatment, catarrhal otitis media can transform into a purulent form. In this situation, an urgent consultation with an otolaryngologist is indicated, who will clarify the diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment.
Aerootit
Congestion in the ears is common when flying an airplane, climbing mountains and diving. Most people in this situation are faced with the development of this condition. It is explained by the fact that the pressure in the tympanic cavity is normally at a certain level. In situations where there are sudden changes in atmospheric pressure, the middle ear does not have time to align it.
A child rarely faces the need to climb the mountains, but plane flights are quite frequent life circumstances. The result of such exposure is complaints that the child has a stuffy ear, but does not hurt. This symptom can be short-lived, or it can be observed throughout the entire flight. Normalization of atmospheric pressure in a short time leads to a regression of this symptom.
What to do if a child has a blocked ear on the plane depends on additional signs. If they are absent, then to alleviate the discomfort, it is necessary to take the following measures:
- open your mouth wide, as if yawning;
- close your mouth, nose and hold your breath;
- swallow saliva.
If at the end of the flight, despite the actions taken, the congestion in the ears does not go away, it is necessary to consult an otolaryngologist and perform an otoscopy. The presence of any additional symptoms, and above all, pain, dizziness, hearing impairment, nausea, vomiting is also a reason to consult a specialist, since congestion in the ears, in addition to organ pathology, can be a sign
- high blood pressure;
- violations of the central nervous system;
- pathology of the vessels of the brain.
Any situations when the development of this symptom cannot be associated with a sharp drop in atmospheric pressure should cause concern.
Pathology of ENT organs
The most typical pathological condition of the ENT organs, characterized by the development of congestion in the ears, is inflammation of the Eustachian tube.
As a result of edema and the formation of an excess amount of mucus in the nasopharynx, the lumen of the auditory tube narrows and stagnates in it. These changes are predisposing factors for the development in the auditory tube of the inflammatory process, eustachitis. Since the drainage function of the auditory tube at the same time begins to suffer, catarrhal inflammation also occurs in the tympanic cavity, accompanied by a symptom when the child has a blocked ear.
Consequently, any pathological condition accompanied by the development of Eustachitis is characterized by the fact that the child's ears are blocked. Most often, such a pathology is
- flu and other acute respiratory viral infections;
- sinusitis;
- childhood infectious diseases (scarlet fever, measles);
- polyps in the nose;
- curvature of the nasal septum;
- enlarged adenoids.
The therapeutic measures used in this case should be aimed at improving the patency of the Eustachian tube.
The most effective drugs that help relieve swelling and reduce mucus in the auditory tube are vasoconstrictor nasal drops.
Their use should not exceed 7 days, since they are addictive and the development of other concomitant effects. With adenoiditis, curvature of the nasal septum, a specialist may suggest surgical treatment to improve the situation.
Chronic otitis media
Common reasons when a child has ear problems, but does not hurt, may be past purulent otitis media. Their prolonged course, frequent relapses lead to the formation of adhesions and fibrous growths on the tympanic membrane. The surface of the tympanic membrane becomes dull, gray,
thickens. With such morphological changes, it becomes more difficult for her to perform her function.
In a state of remission of chronic otitis media, the main symptom of this condition is ear congestion and hearing loss.
Conservative treatment in this case includes pneumomassage of the tympanic membrane, resorption procedures. However, with a severe development of the situation, these therapeutic measures may be ineffective. If clinical symptoms increase, hearing loss progresses, surgical treatment may be offered, consisting in the reconstruction of the tympanic membrane.
Ear plugs
Another condition accompanied by a feeling of stuffiness in the ears is the formation of sulfur plugs. Diagnostics in this case is not difficult. This reason can be suspected due to the absence of additional signs. The child is active, cheerful, body temperature is within normal limits. However, a visual examination of the external auditory canal makes it possible to detect this pathology.
The toilet of the ear and its release from sulfur plugs is recommended to be carried out in a specialized office, where the doctor, using a syringe with saline solution, will wash out the sulfur from the ear. You can try to carry out this procedure yourself using a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Dropping it into the ear, the sulfur plug is liquefied. The resulting liquid consistency contributes to a more successful evacuation. In the future, using cotton filaments, it is necessary to dry the external auditory canal.
There are medicines, A-cerumen, Remo Wax, Audi Baby, the use of which serves both to prevent the formation of ear plugs and to facilitate their evacuation. The use of these drugs is possible from a very early age of the child.
Thus, what to do if a child has a blocked ear depends on the presence of additional signs and the situation in which this condition developed. Congestion in the ears due to changes in atmospheric pressure should go away soon after the annoying factor stops acting. The feeling of anxiety should appear if the symptom is present for a long time. In this case, the patient should be examined by an ENT doctor, since concomitant diseases accompanied by this symptom may occur, or the presence of a symptom is due to a ruptured eardrum.
The presence of this symptom against the background of the general satisfactory condition of the child at home, most likely, indicates the presence of ear plugs. Pathology of the ENT organs occurs in the presence of pronounced additional symptoms, which may be nasal congestion, runny nose, feeling of heaviness in the head, hearing loss, increased body temperature, etc. In all cases, an otolaryngologist's consultation is indicated to clarify the diagnosis.
