Ears popping sinus infection
Ear popping sinus infection, are both of these related to each other? What causes ear popping? What are the sinus infections? Ear popping sinus infections has a number of etiologies and are usually benign and can be serious as well.
Ears are one of the five senses and are complicated. Ear has three compartments which involves external ear, middle ear and the inner ear.
The external ear and middle ear have an ear drum or tympanic membrane between them which transmits the sound from the external environment to the middle ear then to the inner ear and later transmitted to the brain through electric signals.
The middle ear is connected to the nose through eustachian tube. The eustachian tube as a canal runs between the two and maintains and equalizes the pressure between the two. Eustachian tube can be blocked by a number of causes leading to ear popping.
All the causes, remedies and treatments will be discussed in the article below.
Contents discussed in the article:
General causes of ear popping:
- Wax build-up: Wax is formed naturally by the ceruminous glands in the external ear and serves as a protection against insects, and keeps the ear canal moist. Wax isn’t usually removed from the ear unless some problems are encountered, which includes ear wax impaction, infections and muffled hearing and crackling of ears specifically when you open your mouth or move your jaw.
Wax can be removed by a number of causes:
By placing mineral oil or olive oil in the ear canal
Using the over-the-counter medications like ear drops
Using a syringe or saline solution.
- Allergies: Allergies can be caused by a number of reasons some of which can be transient and some of which are perineal. These allergies include coughing and nasal congestion which results in mucus build up in the nasal turbinates blocking the sinus and thus the eustachian tubes. These allergies ae usually prevented by the method of avoidance and in cases of unmodifiable factors medicines can be helpful. These medicines include taking anti-histamine and decongestants, these can help in relieving nasal and thus ear congestion.
- Fluid build-up: Fluid can build up in the ears when there is a problem with the drainage tubes. This dysfunction can cause fluid to get trapped behind the eardrum. Some of the symptoms that can occur with fluid inclusions:
Popping, buzzing
Swelling
Pressure in the ear
Hearing loss
Dizziness
Impaired balance
Several causes can cause this problem:
Colds or other infections that cause obstruction
- Sinus infections
- Allergies
- Ear barotrauma
It is important to find out what is preventing the tubes from draining. If the problem remains unresolved, the fluid behind the eardrum can cause it to burst.
Here are some tips for removing fluid from the ear canal:
Pull on your earlobe while tilting your ear towards your shoulder.
Use a warm compress. Apply for 30 seconds, then remove for one minute. Repeat this process until you feel relief. Make sure to be on your side.
Try an over-the-counter eardrop. Make sure the drop has alcohol in it to get its drying effect.
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Clogged eustachian tubes due to:
Sinus infection: Sinus infection can be caused by common cold, flu and the condition is medically called as sinusitis which results into a number of manifestations like facial pain, runny nose, loss of smell, cough. Some other symptoms like fever, fatigue and bad breath may also be experienced.
Polyps: Polyps are usually benign masses and can grow in size with time. These polyps if nasal can cause congestion and block the sinuses. This condition usually mimics, allergies, flu and cold and thus needs more detailed examination.
Tumors: Tumors can also result into nasal congestion and other irritating and stimulating symptoms which exacerbate the congestion and clogged eustachian tubes leading to crackling sound in ears.
- Middle ear infections: Middle ear infections also called as acute otitis media is more common in children. In this condition, the tubes are blocked due to the infection and the fluid is build up and if infected can result into other manifestations like:
- Ear pain
- Ear secretions
- Headaches
- Fever
- Draining of fluid from ear
- Middle ear myoclonus: Ear contains tiny bones and tiny muscles. The spasms in the muscles can cause eardrum to vibrate. Usually stapedius or tensor tympani muscle are contracted and results into a crackling, buzzing or ear popping.
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems: Usually patients in the ENT department after ruling out other possible causes of infections, ear wax, the TMJ problems are reported. TMJ is the joint between jaws and temporal part of head, near to the ears. Any issue in TMJ can result in stiffness, pain, or even strange noises in ears mimicking ear popping.
Sinus-related issues and ear popping:
Sinuses are the cavities in the face. These sinuses include Maxillary, ethmoidal, frontal and sphenoidal.
Sinus infections are of two types acute and chronic.
Sinusitis has nasal cavities inflamed; swollen ad infected. It is usually caused by viruses and in certain cases fungus and bacteria can be a cause.
Acute sinusitis: Acute sinusitis can be caused as a part of cold or other respiratory illnesses. This usually lasts for less than four weeks or isn’t resolved in 10 days or at times improve for a while and then returns back. The onset is sudden and starts with ruby, stuffy nose, and facial pain. It responds to decongestants and antibiotics.
Chronic sinusitis: The chronic sinusitis is a condition in which all of the symptoms or even most of them lasts for at least 12 weeks and the symptoms include nasal congestion, drainage, facial pain and anosmia or decreased smell.
Recurrent sinusitis: this condition is defined when the symptoms of sinusitis repeat four or more times in a year and each time lasts for less than two weeks.
Symptoms
- PND (post nasal drip)
- Stuffy nose
- Nasal discharge
- Facial pressure (around eyes, nose, forehead and even pain in teeth and ears
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Fever
Diagnosis
Diagnosis can be simply based on history and physical examination. History involves asking details of onset, history of treatment, associated symptoms, history of allergies, etc. During physical examination a normal speculum can be used but the actual physical examination involves the use of nasal endoscope. In some cases of CT scan can be requested. In some cases referral t the ENT specialist is given to prevent the complications associated with sinusitis.
Treatment
Treatment is different depending on the cause and severity of the sinusitis which involves a range from normal conservative treatment to antibiotics, decongestants.
A simple and mild infections can be treated decongestants, some over-the-counter medications for cold, allergy, nasal saline irrigation, staying hydrated will help as it is a viral infection.
If the symptoms of sinusitis do not improve after 10 days, your doctor may prescribe: Antibiotics (for 7 days for adults and 10 days for children), oral or topical decongestants, intranasal prescription steroid sprays. (don't use over-the-counter sprays or drops for more than three to five days - they can actually increase congestion).
Long-term (chronic) sinusitis can be treated by focusing on the underlying condition (usually allergies). This is usually treated with: intranasal steroid sprays, topical antihistamine sprays or oral pills. Leukotriene antagonists to reduce swelling and allergy symptoms. Rinsing the nose with saline solutions, which may also contain other drugs. If any of the above treatments cannot control your sinusitis, a CT scan will be used to better see your sinuses. Depending on the results, surgery may be necessary to correct structural problems in your sinuses. This is more likely if you have polyps and / or a yeast infection.
Complications of sinusitis
Although it does not occur very often, untreated sinus infections can be life-threatening by causing meningitis or infecting the brain, eyes, or nearby bones. Meningitis is an infection of the membranes (meninges) that cover the brain and spinal cord.
When to see a doctor?
Usually cold and symptoms of allergy get resolved within days- week. But if you find symptoms are getting worse or not responding to medicines and conservative treatments you need to need see a nearby health care professional. These symptoms include facial pain, post nasal discharge, stuffed nose, fever, hearing loss, balance issues, severe ear pain.
Takeaway
Cold and allergies are usually benign and never lead to any serious complications. But cold that is persistent and doesn’t get resolved with treatment after weeks needs to get intervened by a health care professional. Usually timely intervention can help the person deal with the course. Ear popping usually happens when the ear tubes or eustachian tubes are blocked due to sinus infection leading to the discomfort. There are some other causes which can lead to ear popping and must be ruled out but by keeping the symptoms side to side can lead us to the cause of ear popping and help the get a sigh of relief.