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Echo in Left Ear
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Kamini285 posted:
I had a cold 4 weeks ago. 2 weeks ago (2 weeks after my cold was gone) I started having an echo in my left ear. At the same time I developed a throat infection with symptoms similar to strep throat. I went to the doctor and he said that the echoing in my ear was likely due to my throat infection. He prescribed me both antibiotics, called Levoflaxacin and eardrops, called Oflaxacin Otic Solution 0.3%. My throat infection seems to be gone, but the ear drops have not made any difference after use for 4 days. I wonder if I have pulled something, such as a nerve, in my ear, maybe from coughing or sneezing.
I have never had pain in my ear because of this, but it is just very uncomfortable.
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Echo in Left EarI had a cold 4 weeks ago. 2 weeks ago (2 weeks after my cold was gone) I started having an echo in my left ear. At the same time I developed a throat infection with symptoms similar to strep throat. I went to the doctor and he said that the echoing in my ear was likely due to my throat infection. He prescribed me both antibiotics, called Levoflaxacin and eardrops, called Oflaxacin Otic Solution 0.3%. My throat infection seems to be gone, but the ear drops have not made any difference after use for 4 days. I wonder if I have pulled something, such as a nerve, in my ear, maybe from coughing or sneezing. <br />I have never had pain in my ear because of this, but it is just very uncomfortable.
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Rod Moser, PA, PhD responded:
It is really not possible to pull a nerve in your ear. One likely cause of your echo would be PET (patulous Eustachian tube). The Eustachian tubes ventilate and equalize pressure in your ears. They are normally closed and only open briefly when we swallow, but they can occasionally remain in the "open" position. In this case, you would hear an echo or perhaps hear your own voice or breathing. PET can be caused by a cold or sore throat, so it does fit the history.

Without a hands-on examination, there is no way for me to be sure, but if you had PET, those antibiotic eardrops would have absolutely no beneficial effect. PET usually self-resolves over time, but it would be impossible to predict how long your symptoms might last. There are specific treatments for PET, once a diagnosis is confirmed by an ENT specialist, but these treatments are often reserved for long-standing cases.
Report This| Share this:Echo in Left EarIt is really not possible to pull a nerve in your ear. One likely cause of your echo would be PET (patulous Eustachian tube). The Eustachian tubes ventilate and equalize pressure in your ears. They are normally closed and only open briefly when we swallow, but they can occasionally remain in the "open" position. In this case, you would hear an echo or perhaps hear your own voice or breathing. PET can be caused by a cold or sore throat, so it does fit the history.<br /> <br />Without a hands-on examination, there is no way for me to be sure, but if you had PET, those antibiotic eardrops would have absolutely no beneficial effect. PET usually self-resolves over time, but it would be impossible to predict how long your symptoms might last. There are specific treatments for PET, once a diagnosis is confirmed by an ENT specialist, but these treatments are often reserved for long-standing cases.
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