SYMPTOMS

What are the symptoms of ear fullness?

Ear fullness refers to a sensation of blockage in the skin around the ear, or a feeling of obstruction or pressure inside the ear.

It is generally caused by various ear or adjacent organ disorders that create an imbalance in air pressure on both sides of the eardrum, resulting in ear fullness. Pressing the tragus may temporarily relieve the discomfort.

TREATMENT

How to relieve or alleviate ear fullness?

• Pressing the tragus can temporarily relieve ear discomfort.

• Simply perform actions like swallowing, chewing, or yawning.

• You can try the Valsalva maneuver:
  In simple terms, the key steps are: take a deep breath, pinch your nose, puff your cheeks, keep your mouth closed, and forcefully exhale through your pinched nostrils. This can help open the Eustachian tube, providing instant relief from ear fullness. However, be careful not to exert too much force or do it for too long, as excessive pressure may affect cerebral blood flow and cause dizziness.

Note: For those with severe colds, sinusitis, otitis media, or other ear conditions, pathological swelling or adhesions of the Eustachian tube may make it difficult to open even with the above methods. In such cases, seek medical attention promptly to determine the underlying cause.

DIAGNOSIS

When Should You Go to the Hospital for Ear Fullness?

Patients with ear fullness should seek medical attention promptly if accompanied by any of the following (but not limited to) symptoms:

• Nystagmus, dizziness, tinnitus, or hearing loss;

• Ear pain or various types of ear discharge (serous, mucous, watery, purulent, bloody, etc.);

• Severe ear pain, tragus tenderness, or pinna pulling pain;

• Itching, pain, or pus discharge in the ear;

• Fever, chills, or general fatigue.

POTENTIAL DISEASES

What are the possible causes of ear fullness?

• Various types of otitis media: secretory otitis media, acute otitis media, chronic otitis media, etc.;

• Meniere's disease;

• Earwax impaction;

• External ear canal diseases or foreign bodies: foreign bodies in the ear canal, otitis externa, ear canal furuncle, fungal infection of the ear canal, or cholesteatoma of the ear canal;

• Bullous myringitis;

• Sudden hearing loss;

• Vestibular neuronitis;

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo;

• Vertebrobasilar insufficiency;

• Benign or malignant tumors of the external ear, middle ear, or inner ear (e.g., middle ear carcinoma);

• Nasal or sinusitis;

• Ear barotrauma or deep-water ear pressure injury.