What is the Eustachian tube?

The Eustachian tube runs between the inside of the ears and the throat.

Eustachian tube keeps air pressure stable in the ears.

What is Eustachian Tube Dysfunction?

• The Eustachian tube is a small opening that connects your throat to the middle ear.
• When you sneeze, swallow, or yawn, the Eustachian tubes open; this keeps the air pressure and the fluid from building up inside your ear.
• Sometimes a Eustachian tube might get plugged, called Eustachian tube dysfunction. When this happens, sounds get muffled, and your ear may feel full. You may also have ear pain.

When your Eustachian tubes get blocked, the air pressure in your ears changes.

The mucous secreted in your nose and throat during a cold can clog your Eustachian tubes, causing pain in the ears.

A quick change in air pressure can close up Eustachian tubes, such as during flying in an airplane or during scuba diving.

What are the Symptoms of Eustachian tube Dysfunction?

If you have Eustachian tube dysfunction, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Your ears may feel plugged or full.
• Sounds may seem muffled.
• licking sensation (children may say their ear “tickles”) in your ears.
• Pain in one or both ears.
• Ringing in your ears (called tinnitus).
• You may sometimes experience trouble in keeping your balance.

Your symptoms may worsen with altitude changes that occur during flying in an airplane, riding in elevators, driving through mountains, or diving.

What are the Causes of Eustachian tube Dysfunction?

• Eustachian tube dysfunction is the most common cause of Eustachian tube dysfunction when the tube gets inflamed, and mucus or fluid builds up.
• This inflammation or mucous build-up can be caused by
• Cold,
• Flu,
• Sinus infection
• Allergies.

Few people are at greater risk for Eustachian tube dysfunction. They include:

CHILDREN:

• The Eustachian tubes in children are short and straight compared to the Eustachian tubes of an adult; this makes them more prone to get infected with germs and clog.
• Also, in children, immune systems are not fully developed. Low immunity makes it harder for them to fight with infections.

SMOKING:

Smoking damages the cilia in the nose. Cilia are the tiny hair that sweeps mucus from the middle ear to the area at the back of the nose; this can allows mucus to gather in the Eustachian tubes.

OBESITY:

Fatty deposits around the Eustachian tubes can lead to Eustachian tube dysfunction.

What is the Treatment for Eustachian tube Dysfunction?

First-line treatment:

• Using a nasal decongestant to reduce the swelling in the lining of the tubes.
• Taking antihistamine or using a steroid nasal spray to reduce any allergic response.

Eustachian tube surgery: (MYRINGOTOMY)

• The surgeon will make a small incision in the eardrum and suction the fluid in the middle ear; this gives the swollen Eustachian tube lining, time to shrink while the eardrum is healing.
• Healing usually takes 1 to 3 days.
• Mucous formation occurs if the Eustachian tubes, if the lining doesn't get healed.

IMPLANTS:

• Implanting small tubes in the eardrums. These let the built-up fluid drain out of the middle ear. Children who often get a lot of ear infections sometimes get tubes implanted in their ears. They stay in up to 18 months in their ears and fall out on their own.

BALLON DILATION SYSTEM:

Using a balloon dilation system. The doctor will use a catheter (long, flexible tube) to insert a small balloon through your nose and into the Eustachian tube. When the balloon is inflated, the balloon opens a mucus pathway and air to flow through the tube. Doing this can help Eustachian function properly.