Water in the ear
What really helps now!
© Tropical studio / Shutterstock
Water in the ear is primarily annoying – but it can also be dangerous. With our tips you will quickly get rid of this annoying phenomenon!
How does water in the ear come about?
A dip in the pool or a one-time immersion in the bathtub can cause water to land in your ears. The water runs through the ear canal and reaches the eardrum, where it sloshes back and forth with every movement. We perceive this as a slight rustling or gurgling – and can only hear to a limited extent. This may be particularly uncomfortable at first, but it can also develop into a serious health problem if the water contains germs. These can cause what is known as bath otitis – an inflammation in the ear that can be very painful. If there is an earache in addition to the water in the ear, the ENT doctor should therefore be consulted quickly.
Symptoms of an ear infection
In addition to pain, also suggest the following symptoms of inflammation in the affected ear:
Children and babies also suffer from balance disorders, Difficulty sleeping and loss of appetite.
Advice and tips: What helps against water in the ear?
To get the fluid out of the ear canal, the following tips can help:
- Move: You can often get rid of the water in your ears quickly by shaking your head and jumping on the spot.
- Blow dry: Pull the ear back and up slightly. Set the hair dryer to the lowest setting and hold it about 30 centimeters away from your ear – the water in the ear should have evaporated after a few minutes.
- Pluck: Tilt your head to one side – the ear in which the water is in is pointing downwards. Now you pluck something on your earlobe. This makes the fluid move in the ear and make it easier to drain.
- Compress: A warm compress on the ear can also help drain water. To do this, you dip a washcloth in warm water, wring it out well and place it on your ear for about 30 seconds. You pause for a minute, then repeat the process – a total of four to five times.
- Ear drops: Special ear drops from the pharmacy or drugstore can also help.
What if a dull feeling lingers in the ear?
Even when the water is long gone, a dull feeling sometimes stays in the ear for days. This happens when the ear canal is clogged with a lot of ear wax – the water swells it up and can press against the eardrum. You should only have this removed by the ENT doctor – he or she will rinse the ear, soften the wax up and then suck it off.
Prevent water in the ear
If you want to do something for the health of your ears, you should avoid getting water in your ear from the outset. Earplugs help when swimming, which close the ear completely.
Reading tip: Here you can find out everything about ear effusion and which tinnitus treatment can help.