Cold and flu season is in full swing. At some point, all of us have experienced the chills, the congestion, the fatigue, and the nagging cough. Among these symptoms is the “plugged ear” sensation that occurs from congestion build up in the sinuses and ears.

The Eustachian tube is a narrow tube connecting the back of the nose and the middle ear. Normally, the tube is filled with air and opens when we yawn, swallow or chew. It functions to protect the middle ear from pathogens; to ventilate the middle ear, which allows the eardrum to work and vibrate properly; and, to help drain mucus from the middle ear.

Otitis media, also simply referred to as a middle ear infection, is inflammation in the middle ear (the area behind the eardrum) that is usually associated with the buildup of fluid. When infection occurs, the condition is called "acute otitis media." This is when a cold, allergy, or upper respiratory infection, and the presence of bacteria or viruses, lead to the accumulation of pus and mucus behind the eardrum, blocking the Eustachian tube (the tube from the back of the ear to the mouth). Fluid can remain in the ear for weeks to many months.