Feeling water in the ear is quite an annoying sensation that usually goes away on its own when we shake our heads. However, some acute diseases and infections can cause fluid to accumulate behind the eardrum, causing the sensation of having water in the ear to be manifested for a long time and accompanied by pain, dizziness, discharge, and fever.
In most cases, conditions associated with fluid accumulation in the ear respond positively to treatment and medical supervision, so it is essential to pay attention to it as soon as it appears. To find out the conditions related to this symptom, we invite you to read the FastlyHealarticle: I feel like I have water in my ear: causes.
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Acute ear infection
“I feel the water in my ear” is the phrase that many children use to describe to their parents the discomfort caused by otitis media or acute ear infections. This condition represents the most common reason for visiting the pediatrician. Although this disease is more common in children, adults are not exempt from suffering from it.
Otitis is caused by inflammation and infection of the middle ear, located precisely behind the eardrum. This condition is excruciating and is usually caused by the accumulation of fluid inside the ear due to the blockage of the Eustachian tube due to allergies, colds, excess mucus, tobacco smoke, or enlarged adenoids. The symptoms of acute ear infection are:
- In children: irritability and inconsolable crying.
- Earache.
- General discomfort.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea.
- Fever.
- Hypocaust or difficulty hearing correctly.
- Clogged ear.
- The sensation of liquid in the ears.
Different ear infections depend on the part of the organ they originate. However, all these conditions involve the accumulation of fluid behind the eardrum. Extracting this substance is of great help to accelerate recovery. At the end of this article, we will tell you how to remove water from the ear at home.
Ears plugged by water.
When showering, swimming in the pool, or submerging in the sea, it is possible that a large amount of water enters the auditory cavity and remains concentrated inside. Usually, when this happens, we can immediately perceive the sensation of the liquid inside the ear, and we hear it as a kind of murmur that originates inside the ear. This condition usually disappears after a few minutes, as it is enough to tilt the head towards the side of the blocked ear and shake it several times to expel the water.
The water accumulated in the ear is one of the leading causes of infections; for this reason, it is essential to wear a cap and earplugs when visiting any pool. It is also important to dry your ears well after showering to combat conditions.
Swimmer’s ear or otitis externa
Swimmer’s ear is the infection that occurs in the outer part of the ear, specifically in the ear canal that carries sound from the outside to the eardrum. This disease is caused by different bacteria and fungi that live in more significant numbers in very humid places: like swimming pools!
If you are not a swimmer, you are not exempt from suffering from this infection. You can also get it due to eczema, dry skin, placing foreign objects in the ear, or scratching the ear canal roughly, which is irritating. When a person has otitis externa, they have the following symptoms:
- Pain when chewing
- Red and plugged ear.
- Swollen glands surround the affected ear.
- Drainage of fluid accumulated inside the ear may be apparent at first and then turn yellow like pus.
- Difficulty hearing correctly due to fluid plugging inside the ear.
- Itching and flaking.
Otitis media exudativa
Another condition that can answer why I feel the water in my ear is exudative otitis media. This condition is a type of otitis that occurs without infection in the auditory cavity. What is it about? It is the accumulation of sticky fluid or wax behind the eardrum, in the middle ear, due to the partial blockage of the Eustachian tube by allergic or irritating factors such as tobacco smoke. Diseases of the respiratory system, atmospheric pressure, accumulation of water inside the ear, and the winter and spring seasons are also associated with the development of this disease.
Unlike ear infections, people with exudative otitis media do not have discomfort from the disease; in fact, this disease rarely has symptoms. Often, a mild hearing loss (due to fluid build-up) and a feeling of fullness in the ear manifest themselves. This condition is not treated unless symptoms of infection are present; the fluid usually clears up on its own. If the fluid is not expelled until after four months, it will need to be drained by a medical specialist.
How to get water out of the ear
When there is an accumulation of fluid in the middle ear or the outer part of the ear, we can use a very effective home remedy to drain the auditory cavity and eliminate the sensation of having water in the ear. Follow these steps to remove the water from the ear:
- Get a special preparation to unclog the ears that you can find in any pharmacy. You can also use hydrogen peroxide.
- Heat the mixture until it is warm. The liquid must be neither too cold nor too hot to avoid significant complications inside your ear.
- Lie on your side on your bed or sofa, with the ear you want to drain facing up. Pull-on your ear to open the ear canal and pour in enough liquid until it overflows from your ear.
- Stay in this position for at least 10 minutes. It is usual to feel bubbles, tickles, or itchiness inside your ear.
- Then, pull your ear again and suddenly turn your head on a towel so that all the liquid accumulated inside comes out. Shake your head to the side of the affected ear several times to make sure all of the water is drained.
- Dry your ear well to remove any remaining liquid.
If, after practicing this technique to expel fluid from the ears, you do not notice any improvement in your symptoms, you must make an appointment with a specialist so that they can examine your hearing cavity more deeply.
If you also feel pain, the treatments that we show in the article Home remedies for earache may help.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to I feel like I have water in my ear: causes , we recommend that you enter our Ear, Nose and Throat category .

I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.