Ear Congestion Covid May 2026

If your ears remain "stuffed" three weeks after a negative COVID test, do not assume it is allergies. See an otolaryngologist (ENT) for tympanometry—a pressure test that reveals exactly how stuck your Eustachian tube really is. End of Report

| Feature | COVID Ear Congestion | Bacterial Otitis Media | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Mild pressure; rarely sharp | Severe, throbbing pain | | Discharge | None | Possible yellow/green pus | | Fever | Uncommon (without systemic COVID) | Common in children | | Response to blowing nose | Temporarily improves (pops open) | Worsens pain | | Primary cause | Swollen tube (negative pressure) | Fluid/pus buildup (positive pressure) | 5. Case Study: The Long-Haul Phenomenon Patient "A," 34, female. Contracted mild COVID (Omicron variant) in 2023. Acute symptoms resolved in 5 days, but she reported a persistent "sloshing" sound in her left ear when nodding her head. ear congestion covid

MRI revealed middle ear effusion (glue ear) persisting for 8 weeks. Treatment with standard antibiotics failed (virus, not bacteria). She required a course of intranasal corticosteroids and auto-insufflation (the Valsalva maneuver) to reopen the tube. At 12 weeks, the fluid finally resolved. If your ears remain "stuffed" three weeks after