Eustachian Tube Problems (cont.)
What can cause Eustachian tube blockage?
The Eustachian tube can be blocked, or obstructed, for a variety of reasons
to include:
- The most common cause is a "cold" (upper respiratory infection).
- Similarly, sinus infections and
allergies may also cause
swelling of the tissue lining the Eustachian tube. Simply put, a stuffy nose
leads to stuffy ears.
- Children are particularly prone to Eustachian tube
blockage because their tubes are narrower in diameter, more horizontal in orientation, and closer at the nasal opening of the Eustachian tube to the adenoid.
- The possibility of an enlarged adenoid obstructing the opening of the Eustachian tube is the reason that adenoid removal (adenoidectomy) is frequently recommended in children with chronic ear infections (chronic otitis media).
- Rarely, masses or tumors in the skull base or
nasopharynx can lead to
Eustachian tube obstruction.
Eustachian tube problems and the associated ear
infections are among the most common problems seen by doctors. Many people have
chronic problems regulating middle ear pressure. Causes range from allergies to
excessively small Eustachian tubes (as may afflict children with Down Syndrome).
These patients often notice intermittent ear fullness, ear popping or cracking,
mild hearing loss (an attenuation of sound), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and/or occasional poor balance. Smoking is associated with damage to the cilia that sweep along mucus and debris from the middle ear space to the back of the nose where it may be expelled.
Next: How do altitude changes or air travel affect Eustachian tube problems? »
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