After ear irrigation, which symptom should be checked?

• A. Hearing improvement
• B. Nausea and vertigo
• C. Ear itching
• D. Fever

Answer: (B)

After ear irrigation, watching for nausea and vertigo is important because the procedure can stimulate or irritate the inner ear’s balance organs. Water or pressure changes during irrigation can momentarily affect the vestibular system, leading to dizziness, a spinning sensation, and sometimes nausea. These symptoms can indicate a benign reaction or, in rare cases, a complication such as irritation of the labyrinth or tympanic membrane issues, so they merit prompt attention.

Hearing change isn’t the immediate cue to check the day-of procedure, since any improvement or temporary fullness may not reflect a problem by itself. Ear itching and fever aren’t typical acute signals specifically tied to the irrigation process; fever would suggest infection rather than a direct irrigation-related effect.