Ear, Nose & Throat Is There a Way to Prevent Getting Fluid in Your Ear? By Kristin Hayes, RN facebook twitter Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children. Learn about our editorial process Kristin Hayes, RN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MD on September 20, 2020 facebook linkedin Benjamin F. Asher, MD, FACS, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. For 30 years, he has worked at Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound and the Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic. Learn about our Medical Review Board Benjamin F. Asher, MD on September 20, 2020 Print Fluid in the ear is also called otitis media with effusion or serous otitis media. When the auditory tube (or Eustachian tube), which normally drains into the back of the throat, becomes clogged or obstructed, the ear can fill up with fluid. This occurs most often in children younger than age two, but it can also occur in adults. Otitis media may have no symptoms, and it is frequently undiagnosed. So what can you do to avoid it? Stas_Uvarov / Getty Images Prevent Colds and Infections To prevent otitis media, we first must understand the conditions that cause the Eustachian tubes to become blocked. Otitis media often occurs after a cold or other upper respiratory infection, when the Eustachian tubes become blocked by mucus. You can help prevent colds by: washing your and your children's hands frequently with soap and waterstaying at home when you're sick and keeping children out of school or daycare when they're sickdisinfecting toys, doorknobs, and other surfaces that are frequently touchedpracticing good habits like coughing or sneezing into a tissue and disposing of it, or coughing and sneezing into your upper shirtsleeve to cover your mouth and nosehaving an annual flu shot. When you get a cold or other illness, it's important to see your doctor and get treatment. In the case of a bacterial infection such as strep, your doctor can get you started on necessary antibiotics. Manage Allergy Symptoms Allergies may also cause otitis media. If you or your child has allergies, work closely with your doctor to manage the symptoms. Failing to treat your allergies can lead to long-term problems that can contribute to otitis media, such as chronic sinusitis and anatomical obstructions like nasal polyps. Other Prevention Tips Other ways to prevent otitis media include: avoiding secondhand smokepropping up your infant/small child while they are drinkingelevating your upper body while lying down to allow Eustachian tubes to drain better Some individuals are more prone to otitis media because of their anatomy (for example, the size and angle of their Eustachian tubes in relation to other structures). However, conscientious attention to the tips listed above may help you avoid having this problem. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Common colds: protect yourself and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated February 11, 2019. Is your sore throat strep? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated November 1, 2018. Varshney J, Varshney H. Allergic rhinitis: an overview. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;67(2):143-9. doi:10.1007/s12070-015-0828-5 Additional Reading Otitis media with effusion. Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia. Updated January 6, 2020.