In addition to nasal congestion, during the flu you may feel ear pain. These conditions can be very disturbing comfort. Actually, what causes ear pain during the flu? Check out the following review.
Basically, the nose, throat, and ears are connected to each other through a connecting tube called the eustachian tube. now, because of this relationship, disturbance in one part will affect the other part.
What Causes Ear Pain with the Flu?
The flu is a type of upper respiratory tract infection that is often caused by a viral infection. When you have the flu, you may experience complaints, such as a runny nose, stuffy nose, fever, joint and bone pain, headache, and fatigue.
In addition, when you have a cold, you may feel ear pain. Ear pain during the flu occurs due to excessive mucus production in the nose. This mucus can flow into the eustachian tube which is the link between the nose and ear.
As mucus continues to flow and build up, pressure in the middle ear can increase. This increased pressure will cause you to experience ear pain, which can be accompanied by a feeling of stuffiness or fullness and reduced hearing.
How to Treat Ear Pain during the Flu
Ear pain that occurs during the flu certainly causes discomfort. To relieve this complaint, there are several ways you can do, namely:
Take cold or flu reliever medicine
When you have a cold, you can take over-the-counter cold medicine. If the flu is resolved, ear pain complaints can also subside. Medicines that can be taken during the flu usually contain decongestants and antihistamines. Some also contain a mixture of paracetamol in them.
Use a warm compress
In addition to taking over-the-counter cold medicines, you can also use warm compresses to help reduce ear pain. Compress the area around the ear for 5-10 minutes and repeat the method several times.
Giving antibiotics from the doctor
Although it is more often caused by a viral infection, sometimes irritation and inflammation of the nose can be caused by a bacterial infection. This can be known after an examination by a doctor. If the inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat it.
Ear pain associated with the flu usually goes away after the flu has healed. However, if the earache does not improve, or even gets worse, check with an ENT doctor to get the right treatment.
