Are COVID-19 Boosters Effective? An Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist Weighs In

Regardless of the variant, a significant number of COVID-19 symptoms are associated with the ears, nose, and throat including sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, changes in taste, smell, and hearing, and headache. In fact, in one study, 90% of patients with COVID-19 had ENT-related symptoms.)

Long-term symptoms of COVID-19 such as loss of taste and smell, tinnitus, and vertigo also affect the ear, nose, and throat.

As a physician specializing in otolaryngology, I have a vested interest in seeing my patients protected from the short and longer-term effects of COVID-19 on the ears, nose, and throat. 

While there are still breakthrough infections, vaccinations have proven to be effective in reducing the severity of these symptoms, especially among people over 55, those with significant medical issues, and those who are immunosuppressed.

Preventing and Treating Swimmer’s Ear During Pool Season

There’s nothing like a dip in a cool pool on a hot summer day. But unfortunately for some, the price of refreshment is a painful ear infection commonly known as “swimmer’s ear.”

Swimmer’s ear is more prevalent in children and young adults, however, anyone can suffer from it. Non-contagious and different than a middle ear infection, swimmer’s ear is caused by a growth of bacteria when water stays in the outer ear canal for a long time. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), symptoms of this infection can include:

• Pain when the outer ear is tugged or when pressure is put on the part of the outer ear that sticks out in front of the ear canal
• Itchiness inside the ear
• Drainage from the ear (often yellow and foul-smelling)
• Redness and swelling in the ear
• Muffled hearing

What Are COVID-19’s Long-Term Effects on the Ears, Nose, and Throat?

It is believed that more than one hundred million people experienced health consequences from COVID long after they were negative for infection. According to one study, more than 40% of people who have had COVID have or have had long-term effects after their recovery from the initial infection.

The lingering symptoms, sometimes referred to as long-haul COVID (or if you want to get scientific: post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, or PASC) can be both frustrating and uncomfortable.