Can allergies make your ears feel full?

How allergies cause it

The eustachian tube is a small passageway that connects the upper part of the throat to the middle ear.³ Its job is to supply fresh air to the middle ear, drain fluid and keep air pressure at a steady level between the nose and the ear.³

Allergic rhinitis is caused by allergens like molds, pollen and animals.¹ It brings symptoms such as sneezing, stuffiness, a runny nose, itching and postnasal drip.¹ Rhinitis can also contribute to other problems, such as asthma, sinus or ear conditions, or trouble sleeping.¹

Allergic rhinitis may put you at risk for developing sinusitis, because allergies can cause swelling of the sinuses and nasal linings.² This swelling prevents the sinus cavities from draining and increases your chances of developing bacterial sinusitis.² If a stuffy nose and cough last longer than 10 to 14 days or get worse after 7 to 10 days, you may have more than a cold.² You may then have pressure around your nose, eyes or forehead, a stuffy nose, thick, discolored nasal drainage, a bad-tasting postnasal drip, cough, head congestion, ear fullness or a headache.²

Seasonal allergic rhinitis is triggered by outdoor allergens such as pollen and mold spores.¹ Some people have symptoms year-round because of indoor allergens from pets, mold, dust mites and cockroach residue.¹

Allergies or something else?

If the eustachian tubes are swollen or blocked with mucus due to a cold or other respiratory illness, fluid may not be able to drain.³ In a middle ear infection, the tubes inside the ears become clogged with fluid and mucus, which can affect hearing because sound cannot get through all that fluid.⁴ Bacteria can cause middle ear infection, and so can viruses, like those that cause colds.⁵

The signs and symptoms of an ear infection are ear pain, fever, fussiness or irritability, rubbing or tugging at an ear, and difficulty sleeping.⁵ Hay fever, by contrast, doesn’t cause a fever.⁶ Fluid can also build up in the middle ear without causing an infection, a condition called otitis media with effusion, which does not cause fever, ear pain or pus build-up in the middle ear.⁵

When to see a doctor

CDC’s reasons to seek medical care for an ear infection include a fever of 102.2°F (39°C) or higher; pus, discharge or fluid coming from the ear; worsening symptoms; symptoms of a middle ear infection that last for more than 2 to 3 days; and hearing loss.⁵ Talk to a healthcare provider right away if your child is under 3 months old and has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.⁵

ACAAI says consulting an allergist is the most effective way to diagnose allergic rhinitis symptoms.⁶