How long does it take to clear the eustachian tubes once they are clogged from cold and sinus infection? it happened after a cold and sinus infection. taking amxicillin; hearing is muffled.

A : A blocked ear after an infection is a very individual thing. If this is the first time this has happened and if you have no problems with your ears flying then it will probably clear rapidly (days). If this is something that happens frequently then there may be a more chronic condition going on such as chronic sinusitis which can smolder for a much longer time (weeks). Muffled hearing suggests fluid in the ear which usually means this is a more serious condition and should be evaluated by an ENT physician who would not only look at your ears but also look in your nose with a nasal endoscope to evaluate the sinuses and eustachian tube area and obtain cultures if necessary. This is best done a week or so after taking the Amoxicillin if symptoms are still present. Nasal irrigations with a nettie pot may help speed up the recovery as will a few days of afrin use.

Muffled hearing: Eustachian tube dysfunction after an upper respiratory illness can take a variable amount of time to recover. It could be one to three weeks in some cases. Things to help reduce symptoms include decongestants, nasal steroid sprays, and sometimes other medications like oral steroids.