Medically reviewed by Maria M. LoTempio, MD Key Takeaways You can help drain fluid from your ear by gently popping your ears by yawning or holding your nose while blowing. Applying a warm compress to ...

UNC Healthcare says millions of people each year are diagnosed with otitis externa, more commonly known as swimmer’s ear. According to the CDC, swimmer’s ear is most often caused by water staying in ...

Dale Garber, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician. She has a passion for promoting health and preventative care for children. Water can get trapped in your ear from any water exposure, including ...

Myringotomy is a surgical treatment for middle ear infections. A surgeon makes a small cut in the eardrum to let fluid drain and relieve pressure. They may insert a small tube to allow continued ...

Chronic otitis media (chronic ear infection) occurs when fluid behind your eardrum becomes infected and does not go away with antibiotics. Unlike swimmer’s ear that affects the external ear canal, a ...

Ear tube surgery, or tympanostomy surgery, aims to reduce chronic fluid buildup behind the eardrums. This can reduce the frequency of middle ear infections. It may also improve hearing. Ear tube ...

Your Eustachian tubes are located inside each ear, on the sides of your head. These tubes connect your middle ear to the back of your nose and throat. When you hear your ears pop after swallowing or ...

Medically reviewed by Daniel More, MD Middle ear infections are common and occur when fluid builds up behind the eardrum.