The
eustachian tubes are a pair of narrow tubes that run from each middle ear to
high in the back of the throat, behind the nasal passages. The throat end of
the tubes open and close to: Regulate air pressure in the middle ear Refresh
air in the ear Drain normal secretions from the middle ear Swollen eustachian
tubes can become blocked, causing fluids to build up in the middle ear. This
fluid can become infected and cause the symptoms of an ear infection. In children,
the eustachian tubes are narrower and more horizontal, which makes them more
difficult to drain and more likely to get clogged.
