Brief Answer:
Some information:

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

Sorry to hear about your persistent symptoms.

And thank you for not being overly anxious to get antibiotics as they are overused and lead to resistance.

But if you continue to have muffled hearing/ear congestion after 5 weeks, it would be a good idea now to go in and have your ears looked at.

Sometimes with a viral upper respiratory infection, because of the drainage down the throat, there can be a vacuum effect on the ear drum because of the negative pressure in the eustachian tube. This pulling on the ear drum prevents it from working properly. Also, fluid (clear, not infected with bacteria) can go up to that space. All of this is called serous otitis (as opposed to otitis media or "ear infection" which is usually a bacterial infection with pus behind a bulging ear drum. And otitis media usually hurt a great deal.). With serous otitis what we see is a red but transparent ear drum that is retracted (opposite of bulging out) with fluid bubbles or fluid level behind it.

This can persist as long as there is drainage going down the throat, and sometimes for a week or two after.

While this isn't a blatant bacterial infection, sometimes an antibiotic such as amoxicillin can help.

Decongestants can help too, but if used for more than a few days it can make the secretions in the ear dry up without going away, so that is to be avoided.

So...yes, do go in now and have that ear looked.

And something else you can add that might help your ears indirectly is a corticosteroid nasal spray such as Flonase. This is now sold without prescription at drug stores. It can can decrease the amount of mucus production in your nose/sinuses that drain down your throat.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.

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