What is Ear Fluid?

• Ear fluid is a mucous-like liquid that collects behind the eardrum, in the middle ear. Inner ear fluid buildup occurs mostly in early childhood, and according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, three out of four children have had an ear infection by the age of three. Middle ear fluid will often lead to an ear infection if it is left untreated. You can tell if fluid has built up behind the ear due to difficulty hearing, a red or swollen ear, pain in the ear, and the appearance of a bulging eardrum. Fluid buildup in the ear often also occurs alongside a cold or a fever.
  
  

What Causes Ear Fluid?

• Fluid in the middle ear is often a cause of a cold, flu, or other illness. As a result of viral infections in particular, the lining of the middle ear will become swollen, allowing the fluid to build up. When the nose is congested, fluid can build up in the middle ear due to the eustachian tube, which connects the nose to the ear, becoming swollen or blocked entirely. Children have shorter eustachian tubes, so the likelihood that they will get fluid buildup in the middle ear is greater than adults. Ear fluid can also build up in the inner ear for seemingly no reason at all, and the doctor may not be able to tell exactly why the inner ear fluid developed in some cases.
  
  

When to See a Doctor

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a waiting period of 72 hours before treating an ear infection or fluid in the ear in most cases, states the Mayo Clinic. Exceptions to this rule include children who are under six months old. This will determine if the ear infection, as it often does, will clear up on its own. About 80% of children are able to fight an ear infection without antibiotics, but in some cases, antibiotics are necessary to treat the infection. For children who have had more than two ear infections in the past month, the Mayo Clinic recommends the doctor administer an antiviral ear drop medication. If the fluid in the ear is accompanied by a high fever or what appears to be a serious ailment, contact your doctor immediately.