What causes ear leakage?

Ears are our main organs for listening to all the sounds in the world. When there is a problem with the ears, we will feel very uncomfortable. Sometimes flying on an airplane or having diseases such as rhinitis will affect the hearing of the ears. There is a phenomenon that you feel like your ears are leaking air. Generally, this is caused by Eustachian tube blockage. As long as the Eustachian tube is unobstructed, this phenomenon will be alleviated.

What causes ear leakage?

Eustachian tube obstruction may be mainly caused by rhinitis and other reasons. The treatment should first cure rhinitis and improve nasal ventilation. Then you can use some simple methods. If there is no inflammatory secretion in the nasal cavity, you can pinch your nose with your hands and blow air outwards. If you hear a sound in the ear, it means that the Eustachian tube is unblocked.

The dangers of Eustachian tube obstruction

Secretory otitis media

When the Eustachian tube has persistent dysfunction, the pressure inside the eardrum will be lower than the external pressure, that is, negative pressure will occur. The serum in the capillaries in the middle ear cavity will then seep into the middle ear cavity, forming middle ear effusion.

Tympanosclerosis

The fluid that initially seeps into the middle ear becomes thicker and thicker and eventually surrounds the middle ear bones.

Suppurative otitis media

Bacterial infection combined with middle ear effusion may even lead to serious lesions such as tympanic membrane perforation and ossicular necrosis.

How to clear and open the Eustachian tube

Anything that opens the Eustachian tubes to allow air in will help relieve ear pain. Swallowing, chewing, yawning, and breathing out through the mouth all play a role, which is why some airplanes provide small snacks such as chewing gum and peanuts. For infants, feeding or sucking on a pacifier during descent can encourage them to swallow and prevent earache.

How to clear and open the Eustachian tube

Pinch the nose and blow air:

Inhale first, then pinch your nose, close your mouth, and exhale slowly. Therefore, the air that cannot be exhaled normally can enter the Eustachian tube. You can feel the eardrum bulge and hear a muffled "pop" as air is pushed into the middle ear. If your nose is blocked, you will hear a high-pitched sound.

General treatment:

Treat rhinitis, sinusitis, adenoid inflammation or hypertrophy, nasal polyps, nasal and sinus masses, nasopharyngeal masses, etc. to establish normal patency of the nasal cavity and prevent Eustachian tube obstruction or compression.

Surgical treatment:

Myringotomy and tube placement;

Eustachian tube balloon dilatation: It is a new minimally invasive technology that is simple and safe to operate. It has become the latest choice for the treatment of Eustachian tube dysfunction. The operation is performed under the assistance of endoscope, in which a 600μm diameter balloon catheter is introduced through the nose into the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube. The balloon was then positioned in the cartilaginous segment of the Eustachian tube, and the pressure pump was inflated to 10 bar, maintained for 2 minutes, and then removed.