What causes ear pain after a cold. How to distinguish between cold-related ear discomfort and an ear infection. When should you seek medical attention for ear pain. What are effective treatments for ear pain following a cold or respiratory infection.

Common Causes of Ear Pain Following a Cold

Ear pain that develops during or after a cold can stem from several sources. Understanding the root cause is crucial for proper treatment and relief. Here are some of the most common reasons for ear discomfort associated with colds:

• Fluid buildup in the middle ear
• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• Sinus pressure and congestion
• Secondary bacterial infection

Fluid accumulation in the middle ear is a frequent culprit. During a cold, congestion can block the Eustachian tubes, preventing proper drainage and causing pressure to build up behind the eardrum. This pressure can lead to pain and discomfort.

Distinguishing Between Cold-Related Ear Pain and an Ear Infection

While both conditions can cause ear discomfort, there are key differences between cold-related ear pain and an ear infection. How can you tell them apart?

• Duration: Cold-related ear pain typically subsides as cold symptoms improve. Persistent pain may indicate an infection.
• Intensity: Ear infections often cause more severe, sharp pain.
• Additional symptoms: Ear infections may be accompanied by fever, hearing loss, and balance issues.

If ear pain persists beyond the duration of your cold or is accompanied by fever, hearing changes, or dizziness, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

The Role of Eustachian Tubes in Ear Health During Colds

Eustachian tubes play a crucial role in maintaining ear health, especially during respiratory infections like colds. These narrow channels connect the middle ear to the back of the throat, helping to equalize pressure and drain fluids. During a cold, however, these tubes can become blocked or inflamed, leading to various ear-related symptoms.

How do Eustachian tubes function normally?

Under normal circumstances, Eustachian tubes open when we yawn, swallow, or chew, allowing air to flow in and out of the middle ear. This process helps maintain equal air pressure on both sides of the eardrum, which is essential for proper hearing and comfort.

What happens to Eustachian tubes during a cold?

When you have a cold, several factors can affect Eustachian tube function:

• Inflammation of the tube lining
• Mucus buildup blocking the tubes
• Swelling of surrounding tissues

These issues can prevent the tubes from opening and closing properly, leading to pressure imbalances, fluid accumulation, and discomfort in the ears.

Treating Ear Pain Associated with Colds

Addressing ear pain that develops during or after a cold often involves managing the underlying cold symptoms and providing targeted relief for ear discomfort. Here are some effective strategies:

1. Over-the-counter pain relievers (e.g., acetaminophen, ibuprofen)
2. Decongestants to reduce nasal and sinus congestion
3. Nasal saline sprays to moisturize and clear nasal passages
4. Gentle ear popping techniques to equalize pressure
5. Warm compresses applied to the affected ear

For many individuals, these home remedies can provide significant relief. However, if symptoms persist or worsen, it’s important to seek medical advice.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Ear Pain

While mild ear discomfort during a cold is often manageable at home, certain symptoms warrant professional medical evaluation. When should you consult a doctor for ear pain?

• Severe pain that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter pain relievers
• Ear pain lasting more than a few days after other cold symptoms have resolved
• Fever above 101°F (38.3°C)
• Hearing loss or muffled hearing
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Discharge from the ear

These symptoms may indicate a more serious condition, such as a middle ear infection (otitis media) or outer ear infection (otitis externa), which may require prescription medications or other interventions.

Preventing Ear Complications During Colds

While it’s not always possible to avoid ear discomfort during a cold, there are steps you can take to minimize the risk of complications:

• Stay hydrated to thin mucus secretions
• Use a humidifier to keep nasal passages moist
• Avoid sudden pressure changes (e.g., air travel) when congested
• Practice good hand hygiene to prevent the spread of viruses
• Manage allergies effectively, as they can contribute to Eustachian tube dysfunction

By taking these precautions, you can help maintain ear health and reduce the likelihood of developing ear pain or infections during respiratory illnesses.

Understanding Different Types of Ear Pain

Ear pain can manifest in various ways, and the characteristics of the discomfort can provide clues about its underlying cause. What are the different types of ear pain you might experience?

Sharp, Stabbing Pain

This type of pain is often associated with middle ear infections or sudden changes in pressure. It may come on quickly and be quite intense.

Dull, Aching Pain

A persistent, dull ache may indicate fluid buildup in the middle ear or referred pain from surrounding structures like the jaw or teeth.

Burning or Itching Sensation

These sensations are more commonly associated with outer ear infections or irritation of the ear canal.

Pressure or Fullness

A feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear is often related to Eustachian tube dysfunction or fluid accumulation.

Understanding the nature of your ear pain can help you and your healthcare provider determine the most likely cause and appropriate treatment approach.

The Connection Between Sinuses and Ear Pain

The sinuses and ears are closely interconnected, which explains why sinus issues can often lead to ear discomfort. How do sinus problems contribute to ear pain?

• Shared nerve pathways: The trigeminal nerve supplies sensation to both the sinuses and parts of the ear, causing referred pain.
• Anatomical proximity: The sinuses and middle ear are connected via the Eustachian tubes.
• Pressure changes: Sinus congestion can create pressure imbalances that affect the ears.

When you have a cold or sinus infection, inflammation and congestion in the sinus cavities can directly impact ear comfort and function. This connection underscores the importance of addressing both sinus and ear symptoms for comprehensive relief.

Managing Sinus-Related Ear Pain

To alleviate ear discomfort stemming from sinus issues, consider these strategies:

1. Use a neti pot or saline nasal spray to flush out sinus congestion
2. Apply warm compresses to the face to promote sinus drainage
3. Try over-the-counter decongestants or antihistamines
4. Practice steam inhalation to loosen mucus
5. Stay hydrated to thin secretions

By addressing sinus congestion and inflammation, you can often relieve associated ear discomfort and promote overall recovery from cold symptoms.

Long-Term Effects of Recurrent Ear Pain After Colds

While occasional ear pain during colds is common and usually resolves without complications, frequent or prolonged episodes can potentially lead to more significant issues. What are the potential long-term consequences of recurrent ear pain following respiratory infections?

• Chronic Eustachian tube dysfunction
• Persistent hearing difficulties
• Increased susceptibility to ear infections
• Tympanic membrane (eardrum) damage
• Balance problems

Individuals who experience recurrent ear pain or pressure after colds may be at higher risk for these complications. It’s important to address persistent or recurring symptoms with a healthcare provider to prevent long-term issues and maintain optimal ear health.

Preventive Measures for Recurrent Ear Issues

To reduce the likelihood of developing chronic ear problems related to colds and respiratory infections, consider implementing these preventive strategies:

1. Manage allergies effectively to reduce overall inflammation in the upper respiratory tract
2. Practice good hand hygiene to minimize exposure to viruses
3. Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke, which can irritate the nasal passages and Eustachian tubes
4. Maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine to support overall immune function
5. Consider getting an annual flu vaccine to reduce the risk of influenza-related ear complications

By taking proactive steps to protect your ear health and addressing symptoms promptly when they do occur, you can help minimize the risk of long-term ear issues related to colds and respiratory infections.

Understanding the relationship between colds and ear pain, as well as the various factors that can contribute to ear discomfort, empowers individuals to take appropriate action when symptoms arise. By recognizing the signs that distinguish benign, temporary ear pain from more serious conditions, you can make informed decisions about self-care and when to seek professional medical attention. Remember that while ear pain following a cold is often manageable with home remedies and over-the-counter treatments, persistent or severe symptoms should always be evaluated by a healthcare provider to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

What Does an Earache Really Mean?

It’s a scenario most everyone has faced; the first signs you’re coming down with something: congestion, coughing, sore throat, and sneezing. All signs point to it being a cold. But then your ear starts hurting too. Is it really a cold? Or could it be an ear infection? It can be hard to tell the difference sometimes, but there are a few distinguishing symptoms between these two ailments. Let’s take a look at the differences to make sure you’re getting the right medication for the necessary relief.

When Earaches Mean a Cold

While it’s not commonly thought of, the common cold can actually cause ear pain. During a cold, fluid in the middle ear can accumulate, which puts pressure on the eardrum, causing inflammation and pain.

If the ear pain is caused by a cold, it should go away as the sinuses drain and pressure on the eardrum disappears. The best way to get rid of the cold—and the ear pain—is to treat the cold symptoms. In the meantime, if some relief of the ear pain is needed, try taking an over-the-counter pain reliever like Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin.

When Earaches Mean Ear Infection

If the ear pain doesn’t go away on its own as the cold is getting better, more than likely it’s actually an ear infection. Other symptoms of an ear infection are:

– Intense ear pain,

– Mild hearing loss

– Fever, dizziness, loss of appetite, and difficulty sleeping

– Loss of appetite, and difficulty sleeping.

A doctors visit, to an ENT physician, is the best way to determine whether your ear pain is caused by a cold or ear infection. After an official diagnosis, you’ll get the necessary antibiotics to help you heal. It could take some time for the pain to fully go away after the antibiotics are done. This is because fluid can be left behind on the eardrum for a few weeks. But if weeks turn into months and the pain persists, another doctor’s appointment may be necessary to discuss any additional problems.

If you are experiencing ear pain and suspect you may have more than a common cold, give us a call today. At Premier Medical, our knowledgeable ENT professionals can help you diagnose the problem and get rid of the pain.

Why Does My Ear Hurt? 7 Possible Causes of Ear Pain

Parents know how common earaches are in children, but adults can get frequent ear pain, too. You don’t have to have an infection, or even anything wrong with your ears, to have ear pain.

These are the most common causes:

Earwax

Your ear makes and gets rid of wax all the time. When the process doesn’t work well, the gunk builds up and hardens so your ear canal gets blocked. Your doctor will call this impacted wax. Sometimes, it causes pain.

Don’t use cotton swabs or other objects to try to get wax out. You’ll just push it farther into your ear canal and make it more likely to get impacted. Your ear might hurt, itch, discharge gunk, or get infected. You could even lose your hearing for a while.

You can treat mildly impacted ears at home with over-the-counter ear drops that soften the wax so it can naturally drain. Or go see your doctor if the wax has hardened. She can get the wax out without damaging the eardrum. Learn more about earwax.

Air Pressure

Most of the time, your ear does a great job of keeping pressure equal on both sides of your eardrum. That little pop you feel when you swallow is part of the process. But quick changes, like when you’re on an airplane or in an elevator, can throw off the balance. Your ear might hurt, and you could have trouble hearing. This is typically a eustachian tube dysfunction which can be a chronic in some people.

To avoid problems on a plane:

• Chew gum, suck on hard candy, or yawn and swallow during takeoff and landing.
• Stay awake while the plane descends.
• Take a deep breath, pinch your nostrils shut, then gently try to blow air out of your nose.
• Avoid air travel and diving when you have a cold, a sinus infection, or allergy symptoms.

Learn more about air pressure and your ears.

Swimmer’s Ear

If your ear hurts when you pull on your earlobe or push on the tiny flap that closes it, you probably have this outer ear infection. You get it when water trapped in your ear canal begins to breed germs. Your ear might get red, swollen, or itch and leak pus. It isn’t contagious. To avoid it, keep your ears dry during and after swimming. Your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotic ear drops to clear it up. Learn more about swimmer’s ear.

Middle Ear Infection

A cold, allergies, or a sinus infection can block the tubes in your middle ear. When fluid builds up and gets infected, your doctor will call it otitis media. This is the most common cause of ear pain. If your doctor thinks the cause is a bacteria, she may prescribe antibiotics. If not, then she may recommend a decongestant allergy treatment with an antihistamine and a nasal steroid. Let her know if your pain doesn’t improve or returns. If it isn’t treated, a middle ear infection can spread or cause hearing loss. Learn more about ear infection treatments.

Other Causes

You may feel pain in your ears even when the source is somewhere else in your body, like a toothache. That’s because the nerves in your face and neck pass very close to your inner ear. Doctors call this type of pain that starts in one area but is felt in another “referred pain.”

If your earache comes with a severe sore throat, it could be an infection like tonsillitis or pharyngitis. In fact, ear pain is often the worst symptom of one of these conditions. Learn more about sore throat symptoms.

Continued

Tooth abscesses, cavities, and impacted molars also can cause ear pain. Your doctor will be able to tell if your teeth are to blame by tapping on a tooth or your gums to see if they feel sore. Learn more about toothaches.

The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the “hinge” of your jaw that sits directly below your ears. You might get TMJ pain from grinding your teeth, or it could be a symptom of arthritis. The ache in your ears or face comes after you chew, talk, or yawn. To treat it, take over-the-counter pain medicine and put warm compresses on your jaw. Try not to clench your teeth. You may benefit from using a mouth guard when you sleep. This can help ease the tension that causes ear pain. Eating soft foods will help, too. Learn more about causes of jaw pain.

Some causes of ear pain can be serious such as tumors or infections, including cellulitis or shingles. If your ear pain is severe, doesn’t go away within a few days of home treatment, or comes with a high fever or sore throat, or you get a new rash, visit your doctor right away for treatment and to rule out something more serious.

Ear Barotrauma: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention

What Is Ear Barotrauma?

Ear barotrauma, also known as airplane ear, is that clogged-up, sometimes painful feeling you get in your ears when the air pressure changes quickly.

It’s the biggest health problem for people who fly. And it can be especially painful for babies and young kids because their ears aren’t fully developed.

Ear barotrauma also can happen when you ride in an elevator or drive in the mountains. It can happen in the water, too. Scuba divers call it “ear squeeze.”

Ear Barotrauma Symptoms

Common symptoms include:

• Stuffed feeling in your ears
• Muffled hearing because your eardrum can’t vibrate and make sound the way it should
• Ear pain

If you hear a “pop” in your ears, that’s a sign your eustachian tubes are open. If they stay blocked, your middle ear can fill with clear liquid to try to balance the pressure. If your eustachian tubes are closed, it can’t drain. In this case, more serious symptoms can happen:

With a mild case, your symptoms should go away shortly after you get back on land. If they don’t or if your symptoms are serious, see your doctor.

Ear Barotrauma Causes and Risk Factors

Your ears are especially sensitive to changes in air and water pressure. Still, most people don’t get ear barotrauma. You may be at risk if you have a problem with your eustachian tube where it doesn’t open normally. Reasons that may cause this include:

You’re at a higher risk of ear barotrauma if you’re around loud explosions in the military or scuba dive without proper gear.

Ear Barotrauma Diagnosis

Your doctor will look inside your ears with a tool called an otoscope. They’ll check to see if there’s fluid behind your eardrum or if it’s damaged. If it is, it may take weeks to heal and you might not hear very well. Usually, the only treatment is time.

If it isn’t better in 2 months, you may need an operation to prevent lasting hearing loss.

Go to a doctor right away if you feel like you’re spinning or falling (vertigo) and your symptoms happen right after flying or diving.

Ear Barotrauma Treatment

Mild symptoms of ear barotrauma usually last a few minutes. If they last longer, you may need treatment for an infection or another problem. Serious damage, such as a burst eardrum, may take a few months to heal. Sometimes you may need surgery to repair the eardrum or the opening into your middle ear.

For a mild case, you can usually treat your symptoms yourself.

• Try to “pop” your ears.
• Chew gum or hard candy.
• Drink water during flights. Swallowing helps keep the eustachian tubes open.

Ear Barotrauma Prevention

You can prevent ear barotrauma by keeping your eustachian tubes open. Ways to do that include:

• Medicine. If you have a cold or allergies, take a decongestant about an hour before you fly. A nasal spray or an antihistamine could help, too.
• Earplugs. Special plugs designed for air travel can slow pressure changes and give your ears time to adjust.

If you’re a diver, try these things to protect your ears:

• Equalize your ears before your dive and while going down into the water.
• Go down feet first — it can make equalizing easier.
• Look up — extending your neck can open your tubes.
• Get back to the surface slowly if you feel pain — continuing your dive can injure your ears.

Swimmer’s Ear (Otitis Externa): Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment

If you’re like a lot of folks, you probably think of swimmer’s ear as an unwelcome souvenir of a beach vacation. And while the painful ear condition is often linked to a dunk in the ocean or the pool, the truth is you can get it on dry land, too.

No matter how you got your swimmer’s ear, once you learn to recognize the signs, you have plenty of options to treat it.

Swimmer’s ear, which has the medical name of otitis externa, is an infection in your ear canal. That’s the tube that runs from the hole on the outside of your ear to your eardrum.

Swimmer’s ear is different from the common ear infection that your young child often gets after a cold. Those are middle ear infections, or “otitis media” in doctor speak, and they happen deeper in the ear, behind the eardrum.

Usually, swimmer’s ear is caused by bacteria, but it can sometimes be brought on by a virus or fungus. Symptoms you may get are:

• Itchiness in the ear
• Pain, which can become severe
• Trouble hearing (sound may seem muffled as your ear canal swells)
• Fluid or pus draining out of the ear

Here’s one way to tell which type of ear infection you have. If it hurts when you tug or press your ear, you may have swimmer’s ear.

Why Do People Get Swimmer’s Ear?

Most of the time, your ear fights off the germs that cause swimmer’s ear on its own. You can thank your earwax for that. While it doesn’t get much respect, earwax helps protect the ear canal from damage and makes it hard for germs to grow.

But if the skin gets scratched, germs can get into your ear canal and cause an infection. Some common reasons you may get swimmer’s ear are:

Sticking stuff in your ear. If you use cotton swabs, fingers, hairpins, pen caps, or anything else to clean your ears, it can rub away the protective earwax or scratch your skin. Even ear buds, earplugs, and hearing aids can have this effect, especially if you use them a lot.

Continued

Moisture trapped in your ear. When water gets stuck in your ear canal after swimming — or after you soak in a hot tub or even take a shower or bath — it can remove some of the earwax and soften the skin, which makes it easier for germs to get in.

Continued

Humid weather and sweat can cause the same problem. Germs like a warm, wet place to grow, so moisture trapped in your ear is perfect for them.

Other things can play a role in swimmer’s ear, like:

Your age. While swimmer’s ear can happen to anyone, it’s most common in kids and early teenagers.

Narrow ear canals. Kids often have ear canals that are small and don’t drain as well.

Skin reactions and conditions. Sometimes hair products, cosmetics, and jewelry can irritate your skin and raise the odds of getting swimmer’s ear. So can skin problems like eczema and psoriasis.

How to Diagnose and Treat Swimmer’s Ear

If you have ear pain, don’t wait — see your doctor right away. Getting treatment quickly can stop an infection from getting worse.

During your appointment, your doctor will look in your ear and may gently clean it out. This will help treatments work better.

Then, you’ll probably get eardrops that may have antibiotics, steroids, or other ingredients to fight the infection and help with swelling. In some cases, you may need to take antibiotic pills, too.

Swimmer’s Ear Complications

Most of the time, swimmer’s ear starts to feel better within 2 days of starting treatment. But sometimes, it can get worse or lead to other problems, such as:

Long-term swimmer’s ear (chronic otitis externa). This is when swimmer’s ear doesn’t go away within 3 months. It can happen if you have hard-to-treat bacteria, fungus, allergies, or skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema. Your doctor may need to test a sample of any fluid in your ear to help you decide on the best treatment.

Other infections. Sometimes, the bacteria can spread deeper into your skin or to other parts of your body. One rare condition is malignant otitis externa, which happens when the infection moves into bone and cartilage in your head. It’s a medical emergency, and it’s most common in older people with diabetes and people with HIV or other immune system problems.

Treatment for these infections is with more powerful antibiotics, either by mouth or through a needle (IV).

Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Removal, and Prevention

What Is Earwax Buildup?

Earwax is produced by glands in the ear canal. Although scientists are still not completely sure why we have earwax, it does trap dust and other small particles and prevent them from reaching and possibly damaging or infecting the eardrum. Normally, the wax dries up and falls out of the ear, along with any trapped dust or debris. Everyone makes ear wax, but the amount and type are genetically determined just like hair color or height. Smaller or oddly shaped ear canals may make it difficult for the wax our ears make naturally to get out of the canal. This can lead to wax impactions. This is earwax buildup.

Earwax Buildup Symptoms

Symptoms of an earwax impaction include:

More serious symptoms could mean you’ve developed an infection. Watch for:

When to Seek Medical Care for Earwax

See your doctor if you think you may have any symptoms of an earwax impaction. Other conditions may cause these symptoms and it is important to be sure earwax is the culprit before trying any home remedies.

Go to the hospital if:

• You have a severe spinning sensation, loss of balance, or inability to walk

• You have persistent vomiting or high fever

• You have sudden loss of hearing

Earwax Buildup Causes

Blockage, or impaction, often occurs when the wax gets pushed deep within the ear canal. Earwax blockage is one of the most common ear problems doctors see.

• The most common cause of impactions is the use of cotton swabs (and other objects such as bobby pins and rolled napkin corners), which can remove superficial wax but also pushes the rest of the wax deeper into the ear canal.

• Hearing aid and earplug users are also more prone to earwax blockage.

Earwax Buildup Diagnosis

A doctor can diagnose earwax blockage (or eardrum perforation) by listening to your symptoms and then looking into your ear with an otoscope (ear-scope).

Medical Treatment for Earwax Blockage

Your doctor may use one or a combination of methods to remove your earwax: 

• They can scoop it out with a small plastic spoon called a curette. 

• They can irrigate your ear with warmed water, sodium bicarbonate, or other prescription-strength ear drops and flush the wax out. 

• They can use gentle suction to remove the wax.

Earwax Treatment and Self-Care at Home

If you don’t have a perforation (hole) or a tube in your eardrum, your doctor may recommend that you try an earwax removal method at home.

• You can soften earwax by putting a few drops of baby oil, mineral oil, glycerin, hydrogen peroxide, or over-the-counter wax softening drops such as Debrox or Murine into the affected ear canal. That may be enough to get the wax to come out.

• After you’ve tried a wax softener for a few days,  use a  bulb-type syringe to gently flush the ear with warm water. The water should be at body temperature to help prevent dizziness.

• You can buy over-the-counter kits that combine softening drops with an irrigation system. Your doctor can explain which one might work for you and how to use it.

• It may take several tries to get home treatment to work. If it doesn’t, see your doctor.

Ear candling is not recommended. The procedure uses a hollow cone made of paraffin and beeswax with cloth on the tapered end. The tapered end is placed inside the ear, and an assistant lights the other end, while making sure your hair does not catch on fire. In theory, as the flame burns, a vacuum is created, which draws the wax out of the ear. Limited clinical trials, however, showed that no vacuum was created, and no wax was removed. Furthermore, this practice may result in serious injury.

Earwax Buildup Complications

Problems can happen if earwax isn’t removed carefully and correctly. These include:  

Learn more about hearing loss after ear wax removal.

Preventing Earwax Buildup

Earwax blockage can often be prevented by avoiding the use of cotton-tipped swabs (like Q-tips) and other objects that push the wax deeper into the ear canal.

Earwax Buildup Outlook

Even if you clean your ears correctly, you may still get wax buildup, whether it’s because of the way your ear canals are shaped or the way your body makes wax. If it’s more than an occasional problem for you, you may need to make softening agents a regular routine.

Why You Need to Keep Your Ears Warm This Winter

December 26, 2018

It’s that time of year again! Time to pull out the winter coats, boots, and gloves and face the cold winter weather. But before you head outdoors for work, don’t forget the winter hats and ear muffs. For those who are spending extended periods of time outside working in the cold weather, it is extremely important to keep ear health top of mind to avoid long-term damage that will extend past the cold winter temperatures. Whether it be low temperatures, frigid winds, or icy rain and snow, winter weather can be extremely harmful, and keeping ears warm is a necessary precaution outside workers need to take to stay safe.

Why are Your Ears the First Part of Your Body to Get Cold?

Ever notice that when you are outside in frigid temperatures, it only takes a couple of minutes for your ears to feel like they are covered in ice? Similar to the nose, ears are comprised of mainly cartilage and do not have a lot of insulating fat, causing them to get cold faster than other body parts.¹ In addition to the fact they are often not protected and directly exposed to the cold, that makes them one of the first parts of your body to feel the bitter cold air.

But what about the inside of your ears? If you’ve ever felt pain on the inside of your ears after being outside in cold weather, that is because the nerves in the ear canal are also unprotected and react with a strong pain impulse whenever they are cold. Internal ear pain can also be caused by the lack of blood circulation caused by cold and wind.¹

Does Cold Weather Cause Hearing Loss?

While it may not be a winter injury that comes to your mind at first, it’s true, spending a lot of time in the cold weather without any ear protection can lead to problems that can ultimately cause hearing loss. If you are consistently exposing your ears to cold temperatures, your body can react by increasing bone growth in the ear canal in an attempt to block the cold. This growth is called exotosis, and is often referred to as surfer’s ear, since surfers who are spending extended time in cold water often develop this growth. This is also very common among those who partake in winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding, and can also affect those who are working outside in the cold.

While this is the body’s effort to keep your ears safe, exotosis can actually cause harmful damage to ear health and hearing. The bone growth constricts the ear canal making it difficult to drain water, dirt, and ear wax, which can lead to continuous ear infections, which can in turn lead to permanent hearing loss.

Fortunately, exotosis can be surgically removed, but it does require extended recovery time away from any cold wind and water.²

While 59°F may not seem very cold, that is when you should consider wearing ear protection. Beginning at 59°F, your blood vessels begin to constrict in an effort to consolidate warmth and your ears become more susceptible to the cold.³ As the temperatures dip further below that benchmark, it is even more important to protect your ears and keep them warm.

First and foremost, make sure you have some sort of ear protection while you are outside, such as ear muffs or a hat that covers the ears. While both are great options to keep your ears warm, if workers are also faced with occupational noise, be sure to provide them with ear muffs that not only protect their ears from the cold weather, but also protect against noise exposure.

In addition to keeping your ears nice and toasty, proper ear protection can also prevent moisture build up in the ear, which can often lead to infection. To further avoid infection, be sure to switch out hats or muffs if they get wet since that can also prevent them from keeping your ears warm.

While covering the ear is beneficial in protecting it from cold winter weather, putting items inside the ear is not as safe and effective. While some people put cotton swabs or cotton wool inside their ear in an effort to stay warm or to keep the inside of the ear dry, this can cause inflammation and lead to further problems.²Instead, use a hair dryer on a low heat setting to get rid of any moisture in your ears and continue to cover them while you are outside.

MedExpress aims to keep your employees healthy all year long. To ensure cold weather or loud outdoor noises aren’t taking a toll on your employees’ hearing, make sure you are conducting regular audiometry testing to measure possible hearing loss.

References:

1 EHS Today: Don’t Let Jack Frost Nip Your Ears: Keeping Ears Safe and Sound (and Warm and Dry). Last updated February 15, 2013. Accessed October 23, 2018.

2 People Hearing Better: Keeping Your Ears Warm Matters. Last updated January 26, 2016. Accessed October 23, 2018.

3 Cary Audiology Associates: Fall Weather and Your Ear Health. Last updated October 20, 2016. Accessed October 26, 2018.

What You Need to Know

Earaches and Ear Infections: What You Need to Know

Earaches are certainly uncomfortable, and if you or your child are experiencing this type of pain, it’s important to understand the cause as soon as possible. You will be in a far better position to recover quickly if you can recognize the difference between an earache that will clear up on its own and an ear infection that may require further treatment.

What Causes Ear Pain?

Viral infections like the flu or common cold, as well as seasonal allergies can put pressure on the eardrum and lead to fluid build-up in the middle ear.  Ear pain can also be caused by “swimmer’s ear”, an ear infection of the outer ear canal that occurs when water gets trapped in the ear after swimming. If you’re already suffering from a stuffy nose or sore throat that tend to accompany illnesses like the flu or common cold, an earache is certainly an unwelcome addition.

Who Is at Risk?

Though adults are certainly susceptible to earaches and ear infections, middle ear infections are especially common in children under the age of eight and can often come on suddenly. Pain can range in severity from a mild, dull ache to sharp, burning or throbbing sensations in one or both ears.

What’s the Difference Between an Earache and an Ear Infection?

Ear pain associated with allergies or viral infections like the flu or common cold can sometimes develop into an ear infection. Occasionally, the eustachian tube will become blocked, preventing the fluid from draining out of the ear, causing bacteria to form as a result. Ear infections are caused by bacteria and may require antibiotics for relief. Symptoms of an earache do not always differ from symptoms of an ear infection, and it can be difficult to identify the cause of ear pain without an exam.

Earaches and ear infections are most common in young children who may be too young to communicate their symptoms. Here are some behaviors and symptoms that you can look out for to tell if your child might have an ear infection:

• Tugging or pulling at the ear or ears (can be an indicator of an ear infection, but may also be caused by teething, tiredness, or fluid in the middle ear)
• Fussiness, crying, and/or trouble sleeping (often pain gets worse when lying down)
• Fever (especially in infants and younger children)
• Fluid draining from the ear
• Trouble hearing or decreased response to sounds

Diagnosing and Treating Earaches and Ear Infections

For earaches caused by viral infections or allergies, the best way to seek relief in the comfort of your own home is by pressing a warm cloth or compress against the affected ear and taking an over the counter pain reliever.

However, if your ear pain is severe and persistent, or you have other symptoms of an ear infection like fever that is not subsiding, fluid or discharge, seek medical attention as you may have an ear infection that requires antibiotics.

Diagnosing the cause of earache and ear infection begins with a physical examination. If a viral infection is the most likely cause of symptoms, treatment often includes the use of a warm compress along with decongestants and pain and fever reducers. If bacterial infection is suspected, a treating provider may prescribe oral or topical antibiotics—particularly if at-home treatment has been ineffective. While symptoms typically improve within one week, residual symptoms—such as tinnitus—may take longer to fully resolve.

If you or a family member are experiencing symptoms, simply stop into any ConvenientMD location in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Maine to get evaluated and treated! All of our clinics are open 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week, and you can just walk in without having to make an appointment.

90,000 Congestion, pain, tinnitus: causes, treatment, how to get rid of | Ear hurts with a runny nose, otitis media, with a cold

Ear congestion is a condition that everyone has once experienced. A person has an unpleasant sensation, a feeling of clogging of the auricle, complaints about the transfusion of liquid or rustling and crackling in the ear, decreased hearing acuity.

Why does the ears stick?

Ear congestion can occur for a variety of reasons. The most common ones are:

• Sulfur plug.Earwax is produced to naturally block dust and water particles that can enter the ears. Sometimes, with improper processing of the auricle, the sulfur becomes denser, creating a plug, and a feeling of congestion appears;
• Tubo-otitis, or inflammation of the Eustachian tube, which develops as a result of improper rinsing of the nose and prolonged treatment of the common cold;
• Allergic reactions that are provoked by seasonal or other external stimuli;
• Otitis media, when, in addition to congestion, acute pain is felt in the inflamed ear;
• Chronic hearing loss, which causes a feeling of gradual congestion in the ears and hearing loss;
• Foreign bodies of the external auditory canal and tympanic cavity.
• Among the causes of ear congestion are serious diseases, so this symptom cannot be ignored.

What to do if there is sulfur in the ears?

Often you want to take a cotton swab and just clean your earwax. It is impossible to do this if a feeling of congestion has appeared. It is necessary to make an appointment with a specialist who will assess the degree of congestion and its cause, and then provide professional medical assistance. The ear plug is washed with special instruments, this process takes a couple of minutes and does not cause any painful sensations.After washing, it is important to follow the rules for caring for the ears, the doctor may also prescribe drops in the ears.

How to get rid of ear congestion?

In a healthy person, the unpleasant feeling of congestion disappears quickly. In order for your hearing to return to normal, it is enough to drink water, suck on a lollipop or chew gum. There is a special exercise that helps increase the pressure in the middle ear:

• take a deep breath,
• we pinch our nose with our fingers and close our mouth,
• exhale slowly.

If you hear a slight pop in your ear, there is no reason to panic: the eardrum has returned to its normal position. Sometimes the exercise needs to be repeated several times. However, it can only help if there is no infectious process in the ears, which has become the main cause of the problem.

How to distinguish common congestion from illness?

Short-term congestion and tinnitus can appear during a cold, they most often go away on their own after the elimination of other symptoms.However, there are infectious diseases that occur directly in the auditory tube or middle ear. You can understand that additional treatment for ear congestion is needed by the following signs:

• cold symptoms disappear, but ears still bother,
• ear congestion persists for a long time and is accompanied by pain,
• change of position and slow exhalation of air does not help,
• there is a decrease in hearing acuity,
• discharge appears from the ear canal,
• congestion accompanied by dizziness.

Treatment of ear diseases

When the underlying disease is cured and the congestion and tinnitus persist, the doctor will perform an additional examination of the hearing aid. This is a visual examination and special instrumental diagnostic methods. Depending on the cause of the pathology, drugs and medical procedures will be prescribed. After undergoing a therapeutic course, in most cases, ear congestion disappears without consequences for the patient. Timely referral to a specialist will help prevent complications.

You can consult about the causes of ear congestion and make an appointment with a specialist by calling our clinic or through the form on the website.

FIND OUT PRICES

90,000 Ear pain with colds

No matter what time of year it is outside the window, none of us is immune from colds: in the summer heat, you so want to drink an ice-cold liquid. The result of momentary bliss is a cold. And instead of lying on the beach with friends, you have to sit at home taking the necessary procedures.But especially the risk of getting sick increases in autumn – the spring period, when there is slush, cold and piercing wind, and you don’t want to “still” or “already” pull on a bunch of things, including a hat. It is in such a situation that most often you can get hypothermia and, accordingly, ear pain with a cold.

Causes of ear pain with colds

Pain symptoms in the hearing aid can be the result of many diseases, but the most commonly diagnosed pathology is otitis media, or, as it is popularly called, the common cold.

The causes of ear pain with a cold are often associated with a decrease in the body’s defenses.

The second, most likely source of the symptoms under consideration can be pathogenic flora, bacterial or infectious damage to the tissues of the outer and / or inner ear.

But you should not immediately make a similar diagnosis for yourself, since the source of the pain, perhaps, has nothing to do with the infection. For example, fluid accumulated in the ear is a consequence of the inflammatory process or a banal visit to the pool followed by going outside, exerting a pressure on the eardrum.The water that gets into the auricle, with a sharp cold wind outside or low temperatures, cools, thereby causing an inflammatory process. In this case, all pain symptoms will disappear as soon as health is restored.

But a cold affects not only the tissues of the ear canal itself. Everyone knows that it usually starts in the throat or nose. As a rule, diseases localized in these human organs often give off pain in the ear, although such symptoms are less intense.

Otitis media is the most commonly diagnosed disease that often develops after an untreated or “transferred on the legs” cold, which was infectious or viral in nature. Otolaryngologists divide acute otitis media into purulent and catarrhal. The essence of the difference is that the latter proceeds without the formation of abscesses, and if the former is diagnosed, the ear canal is filled with pus produced by the pathogenic flora, which must be removed, while sanitizing the cavity.

The cause of pain can also be swelling, which has affected the tissues of the auditory tube, by eliminating edema with narrowing drugs, it is possible to get rid of an unpleasant symptom.

Symptoms of pain in the ears with a cold

We begin to feel the onset of a cold when uncomfortable symptoms appear that begin to bother the sick person. And the symptoms of ear pain with a cold are just one of them.

It usually starts with a sore throat or itching inside the auricle.Gradually, the cold begins to “overgrow” with other symptoms. It may be a complex of all the factors listed below, or only a few of them may appear.

• Ear congestion, decreased sound threshold.
• Appearance of sleep problems. Ear pain simply does not allow you to fall asleep normally, exhausting.
• Feverish condition. Body temperature indicators can rise up to 40 C.
• Constant background noise that follows the patient.
• Liquid discharge of greenish, white or yellowish, less often brown, shade. This fact may indicate a perforation of the tympanic membrane, which has arisen as a result of an organ infection.
• Irritability.
• Pain when swallowing.
• Dizziness.

After a person has caught a cold, the pain begins to bother not immediately, but only after a certain time interval, when the inflammatory process has already started and is rapidly progressing. The main thing is not to waste time and start therapy during this period, otherwise the inflammation will also affect the inner part of the auditory canal, which is already more serious. The intensity of the shooting pain becomes unbearable.

Diagnosis of ear pain with colds

Before deciding on the pathology, you need to make an appointment with the doctor. In this case, such a specialist is an otolaryngologist. Diagnosis of ear pain with colds begins with a specialist examination of the ear canal using a special ENT instrument – an otoscope.

The eardrum, not damaged by the disease, has an even, slightly transparent grayish-pink tint.

The indicator of the disease is the hyperemic mucous membrane of the canal, its swelling, the presence of other pathological symptoms.

Using a pneumatic otoscope, the doctor checks for the presence or absence of fluid. A small volume of air is fed into the passage. This is necessary to get the vibration of the eardrum.If the required response force is not observed, then there is an accumulation of fluid in the passage.

When clinically indicated, tympanometry is performed to diagnose the infectious nature of the disease.

Treatment of ear pain in case of colds

A cold, it would seem, is not such a dangerous disease, but how many unpleasant hours and days does it bring to a person affected by it? Therefore, at the very first signs of its onset, it is necessary to contact a qualified specialist who, having made the correct diagnosis, will give the necessary recommendations and write down medical therapy.

Treatment of ear pain with colds pursues two main goals – it is to relieve pain and stop the inflammatory process, bringing the patient’s body to complete recovery.

If the patient has begun to solve the problem, when the disease has not yet passed into a severe phase, it is quite possible that it will be possible to get by with special drops that will extinguish the inflammation, and, therefore, relieve the person of pain. In this case, the otolaryngologist prescribes analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs.

As anesthetic drugs can be assigned: paracetamol, spazgan, celecoxib, phenazone, maksigan, metamizole sodium, analgin, spazdolzin, meloxicam and others.

Paracetamol is prescribed to the patient in dosage:

• Adults and adolescents (over twelve years of age) – one to two tablets two to four times a day, but the daily amount of medication taken should not exceed 4 g.
• Younger children, who are between six and twelve years old, usually take half or a whole tablet four times a day.
• For very young patients who are already three months old, but not yet six years old, the dosage is calculated individually at 10 mg for each kilogram of the baby’s weight.

Contraindications for taking paracetamol include severe renal and / or liver dysfunction, alcoholism, anemia, hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, as well as the period of the first trimester of pregnancy.

To relieve inflammation, the following are usually prescribed: ibuprofen, tiaprofenic acid, indomethacin, naproxen, piroxicam, fenbufen, ketoprofen and others.

Ibuprofen is administered orally immediately after a meal. With a moderate intensity of pain symptoms, the patient needs to take 1.2 g per day.

At the same time, it is strictly forbidden to introduce ibuprofen into the treatment protocol if the patient has a history of ulcerative colitis, perforation or ulcerative damage to the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, hematopoiesis disorders, vision problems, severe renal and liver dysfunction, amblyopia, as well as hypersensitivity to one or more components of the drug.

If the inflammatory process has passed into a severe stage, accompanied by severe pain and purulent discharge, then without the help of antibiotics, it will no longer be possible to cope with the problem. Taking them is guaranteed to rid the body of infection and speed up the healing itself.

Can be prescribed: anauran, otofa, sofradex, normax (norfloxacin), otipax, otinum, cypromed, candibiotic and others.

Candibiotic ear drops are applied topically.Four to five drops should be instilled into the ear canal three times – four times throughout the day. The duration of the therapeutic course is from seven to ten days, but relief can already be expected in three to five days.

Contraindications include increased intolerance to the component composition of drops, as well as perforation of the tympanic membrane. Candibiotic is also not used to treat children under six years of age.

If the inflammation affects the tissues of the outer ear, then antiseptic ointments and solutions are prescribed.Thus, warming applications based on boric acid or alcohol-vodka compresses can be applied, which are applied to the affected organ for 10 – 15 minutes.

Homeopathic medicines are also used, but in a severe form of the disease, they are not so effective.

In the presence of purulent discharge, doctors often prescribe myringotomy (ear tubes) to help drain pus and accumulating fluid. The attending physician takes such a step if the discharge has been observed for more than three months.The second indication for its use may be frequent infections that recur in the ear canal.

To relieve the patient of the accumulation of pathological secretions, the doctor, through the hole in the eardrum, carefully feeds a thin tube made of special plastic or metal. Depending on the effectiveness of the treatment process, such a tube is installed in the ear for a period of eight months to one and a half years. After the need for it disappears, it leaves on its own.If necessary, this period can be increased, but this decision remains in the competence of a specialist.

Remedy for pain in the ear for colds

When pain symptoms appear, many of our compatriots, ignoring a visit to a doctor, try to heal themselves, which happens, not only hopelessly, but also simply dangerous, especially if the disease has passed into the acute phase of its course. Indeed, in the acute form of the flow, warming compresses are strictly prohibited, and it is unacceptable to use medicines in the form of ear drops.Therefore, a remedy for ear pain with a cold should only be prescribed by a qualified specialist. It is the doctor who is able to correctly assess the clinical picture and paint an effective drug treatment.

In the treatment of ear pain, topical drugs are mainly used. Often on the prescription sheet, you can see, with a mild form of a cold, drops such as otinum, otipax, sofradex and their analogues.

With the progression of the disease and the transition of otitis media to the stage of acute illness, the above drops are usually no longer used so as not to aggravate the situation.The focus is on stronger broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Quite often, modern methods of treatment in the fight against pyogenic bacteria in the middle ear use laser therapy.

The insidiousness of a cold is that its first symptoms are well felt by the patient, while it is practically impossible to determine a complete recovery without the help of a doctor. Therefore, if a person did not visit a specialist, but took treatment on his own, relying on the recommendations of a pharmacist from a pharmacy, then an untreated disease threatens to develop into a chronic condition with a sluggish pathology, which increases the risk of recurrence of otitis exacerbation.

Folk remedies for ear pain with colds

Colds haunt humanity from the moment when it began to perceive itself as an individual, separated from the animal world. For all the time of the conscious existence of mankind, he managed to accumulate considerable experience in the treatment of this or that disease.

The range of recipes that can relieve pain symptoms manifested in the ear area is also wide enough. Folk remedies for ear pain with colds are numerous, but we will give only a few of them in the article.

• Lavender oil, thuja oil, alcohol tincture of calendula or mint will help relieve pain. It is necessary to instill five drops of medicine several times throughout the day, and the pain will gradually fade away.
• You can apply a bandage made of medical cotton or a napkin dipped in vodka or alcohol diluted with water on a sore ear. Withstand the warming procedure for about twenty minutes.
• Removes tinnitus, which often accompanies pain, by simply chewing a confectionery clove.
• You can try to relieve inflammation using hot bags of salt. For this, a canvas bag is taken, well-heated salt is poured into it. It must be applied to the sore spot every hour and a half. The procedure should be repeated until the pain syndrome disappears and the inflammation stops.
• Horseradish juice is used as ear drops. Enough two drops three times a day and the pain, and with it the disease, gradually recede.
• Garlic oil is also used, which today can be purchased at the pharmacy or prepared on your own. For the medicine, you need 100 ml of very hot, but not boiling, any vegetable oil. Two garlic cloves are introduced into it, previously crushed or chopped with a knife. Let it brew and drain. From gauze, bandage or cotton wool, make a turunda (roll up a flagellum), moisten it in the resulting solution and carefully place it in the sore ear, leaving it for ten minutes.This composition is an excellent disinfectant that inhibits fungal organisms and microbes.
• Against the background of a cold, you should eat lemon daily along with its zest.
• Propolis tincture can be prepared. Take 10 g of bee product and place it in the refrigerator for a while, after which it will be easy to grind on a grater. Place the resulting shavings in a dark glass vessel, to which add 70 ° wine alcohol. The liquid should cover the propolis. Cork the vessel and leave for eight to ten days to brew in a cool, dark place.The drug must be shaken several times a day (up to five). After the time has elapsed, the tincture should be rearranged for 10 – 12 hours in the refrigerator. The medicine can be drained and used. Before use, taking a few drops in a 1: 1 ratio, dilute the tincture with water. Moisten turunda (from cotton wool or gauze) in liquid and place for twenty minutes in a sore ear. If there is a strong burning sensation, it is better to remove the drug.
• Turundas soaked in onion juice, placed in a sore ear for half an hour, show themselves well.
• A fresh geranium leaf will help relieve pain and inflammation. It can be used both in the form of a crushed gruel, which is laid in the ear canal, and in the form of a rolled tube. But for this, a folded sheet is cut at a right angle and placed inside with a cut. Next, you need to put a piece of cotton wool on your ear and press it with a scarf tied on your head. Change the leaflet periodically.
• You can take a mixture of two oils: linseed and onion. Apply it to cotton wool and place it in the ear for three hours.After the specified period, change the tampon with a new portion of oil.
• For compresses, prepared tincture of calamus rhizome is also suitable. Crushed raw materials (ten grams) pour 100 ml of vodka and put in a dark, cool place for ten days. Every day, three to four drops should be dripped into both ears. At the same time, this tincture is taken orally (inside) in 30 drops.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that no matter how safe the methods of traditional medicine seem, they must be used only with the permission of the attending physician and, often, in conjunction with medications.

Treatment of pain in the ear for colds at home

When a diagnosis is made – otitis media – only if a severe form of the disease is detected, the otolaryngologist can refer the patient to hospital treatment. In most cases, ear pain is treated at home for colds.

In this case, the doctor must fully schedule the regimen of taking medications and the corresponding procedures. The methods and formulations of alternative medicine are widely used in the treatment of the pathology under consideration. It should only be remembered that all these activities can be carried out at home only with the permission of your attending physician. So the patient will save himself from many problems and complications, while he will come to a full recovery in a shorter period of time.

It will not be superfluous to know a number of medical recommendations, the use of which will allow you to avoid a number of mistakes in treatment, while maintaining your health.

• Warming compresses can be used if body temperature does not exceed 38 ° C.
• Oil applications can also be used in treatment, but they are less practical. For example, heated camphor or vegetable oil. But the warming effect of such compresses lasts longer. It can be kept for up to six hours.
• Before injecting the drug into the ear opening, it is advisable to rinse the cavity with 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. The procedure is performed while lying on your side. Seven to eight drops of liquid are injected into the ear. You should lie like this for ten minutes. If inflammation affects both ears, the same procedure is carried out for the other ear canal.

Drops for ear pain in case of colds

In the relief of the problem under consideration, one of the first places is given to topical drugs used in the form of a solution that is instilled into the ear.

Drops for ear pain with a cold have different pharmacodynamics, therefore, based on the existing concomitant symptoms, one or the other is signed. The most effective drug for the existing clinical picture is prescribed only by the attending physician.

These drugs may have vasoconstrictor, anti-inflammatory and / or analgesic properties.

For otitis media, the medicine is injected warm using a medical pipette. The temperature of the liquid should be about 36 – 37 degrees.

Most often, when diagnosing otitis media, doctors prescribe drops that have antibacterial and analgesic qualities: albucid, otipax, anauran, sofradex, otinum, cypromed.

Otium is usually prescribed for the inflammatory process affecting the middle ear, as well as in the case of acute catarrhal inflammation of the outer tissues. The active active compound of the drug is choline salicylate, which allows it to have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect on the body.

It is recommended to use the drug in question three to four times throughout the day, injecting three to four drops into the sore ear.

The instillation procedure itself is simple, but it should still be followed. The patient lies on his side with the sore ear up. In this position, instillation is performed, after which the person must lie down for another two to three minutes.

Do not use such drugs if the patient has a hypersensitivity to one or more of the components of the injected drug, as well as if there is a perforation of the tympanic membrane.

Otipax is used to relieve colds of any etiology.Moreover, in addition to the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, this drug also has characteristics that allow it to destroy pathogenic microorganisms, delay their reproduction and development.

Like the previous drops, it is used topically, twice to three times a day, four to five drops. This drug has practically no contraindications, so it is approved for the treatment of even babies.

Contraindications should only include hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, as well as the presence of mechanical damage to the tympanic membrane, the possibility of developing an allergic reaction to lidocaine.

Despite the fact that otipax is not an antibiotic, it is actively and effectively used in the treatment of otitis media.

Sofradex can be found on drugstore shelves, both in the form of ointments and drops. The pharmacological characteristics of Sofradex make it possible to relieve the symptoms of otitis media of any etiological source. It has a wide spectrum of action: a strong antibiotic that effectively attacks pathogens, an anti-inflammatory and antihistamine agent.

Sofradex is equally effective on both gram-negative and gram-positive types of bacteria.

The medicine is injected into the sore ear two to three drops three times – four times throughout the day.

The drug has a number of contraindications, which include increased intolerance to the patient’s organisms of the components of the drug, viral or fungal infections, perforation of the tympanic membrane, tuberculosis.

Therefore, Sofradex can only be used as directed by the attending doctor, excluding all contraindications. The duration of the treatment course is no more than seven days.

Anauran drops, due to their composition (polymyxin B, neomycin, lidocaine), effectively suppress the reproduction and further development of both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Due to the lidocaine present in it, they have analgesic properties.

Anauran is indicated for use for no more than seven days.It is recommended to inject four to five drops into the ear canal, making two to four approaches per day.

A contraindication to use is the increased sensitivity of the patient’s body to the components of the drug, including lidocaine.

Drops of cypromed, the active substance of which is ciprofloxacin, appears on the pharmaceutical market as an ophthalmic drug, but, nevertheless, it showed itself excellently in the relief of otitis media.It has an antimicrobial effect, effectively affecting a wide range of gram-negative microflora, both active and passive.

The recommended course of therapy with cypromed should not exceed 14 days. To achieve the desired result, the patient receives five drops three times throughout the day. After instillation, the ear opening should be closed with a cotton swab.

The medicine is unacceptable for use in case of intolerance to human organisms of its components.

Prevention of ear pain in case of colds

When the first signs of a cold appear, a person instinctively tries to get rid of them faster, preventing complications and deterioration of the condition. Prevention of ear pain with colds, both for adults and for young patients, is absolutely identical.

• Painful symptoms in the ear area may be a consequence of any infectious disease, such as influenza. Therefore, you should protect your body and the child’s body from infectious lesions.This is especially true during the period of epidemics and the spring – autumn period, when the number of diseases increases sharply.
• You should maintain your immune status at a high level. To do this, it is necessary to regularly temper the body, properly and fully nourish it, introducing a sufficient amount of vitamins and microelements into your diet.
• If necessary, it is worth getting vaccinated against especially dangerous viral infections.
• It is worth giving up bad habits, avoiding passive smoking, which weakens the body.It is dangerous for both children and non-smoking adults.
• Avoid irritants liable to cause an allergic reaction. This fact also takes away the strength from the body to resist diseases.
• It is advisable to feed babies with mother’s milk until one year of age. Breast milk has antibodies that can protect your baby from colds and a number of infections.
• It is necessary to regularly carry out wet cleaning and ventilation in the living area.
• When the first signs of a cold appear, it is worth visiting a doctor and starting treatment immediately.

Prediction of ear pain in case of a cold

It is probably almost impossible to find a person who completely ignores the pathological symptoms of a cold, including pain in the ear. Therefore, the prognosis of ear pain with colds, in the overwhelming majority, is favorable.

It is unlikely that there is at least one person who has never suffered from symptoms of a cold in his life.Especially annoying with a cold, pain in the ears. In the acute course of the disease, its intensity is very difficult to tolerate. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion of an infection in the body, it is necessary to take adequate measures. But so that self-treatment does not lead to a worsening of the situation and complication of the disease, it is necessary to come to a specialist for a consultation in a timely manner. In our case, it is a doctor – an otolaryngologist. And remember, your health is in your hands!

All news
Previous Next

90,000 Ear pain – a symptom of a cold or an infection? – HealthInfo

Ears hurt? How do you know if this is due to a cold or if you have developed otitis media – an infectious disease? We will try to explain how to distinguish these states.

Differences between symptoms of a cold and an ear infection

Ear pain with a cold is characterized as a sharp, dull, or burning pain of mild to high intensity. Even in a healthy ear, fluid in the middle ear cavity presses against the eardrum, causing it to vibrate.

Ear pain with colds is accompanied by sleep disturbance in children and adults, jumping fever, discharge of yellow or green mucus from the nose.As the cold goes away on its own, the ear pain goes away with the other symptoms. If the pain persists for a long time, this may mean the development of an infection, in which case you should visit a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.

Ear pain can be caused by a cold virus or a secondary infection. In this case, the pain is very intense, it occurs suddenly. Sensory nerves in the eardrum respond to increased pressure with pain.After a slight stretching of the tympanic membrane, the pain subsides. Other symptoms of a middle ear infection (otitis media) are as follows:

• Loss of appetite. This mainly applies to bottle-fed babies. The change in pressure in the middle ear when swallowing further increases the pain.
• Irritability.
• Lack of sleep. The pain may become more intense when you are lying down (due to fluid movement in the middle ear cavity).
• Fever. With otitis media, the temperature can rise to 40C °.
• Dizziness.
• Discharge from the ear. A yellow, brown, or white fluid leaking from the ear (but not earwax) indicates a violation of the integrity of the eardrum.
• Hearing impairment. The fluid accumulating in the middle ear cavity disrupts the normal functioning of the tympanic membrane, and therefore, the sound is not transmitted through the ossicles of the middle ear and does not go further into the brain.
• Otitis media with exudate.Symptoms of acute otitis media may subside, but a fluid called exudate still remains in the middle ear. This leads to a slight temporary loss of hearing.

How is a middle ear infection diagnosed

In case of suspicion of otitis media, the doctor examines you using a special device – an otoscope. Normally, a healthy, pinkish-gray, transparent tympanic membrane. When infected, the eardrum may be inflamed, swollen, or red.The doctor may also check for fluid in the middle ear cavity using a pneumatic otoscope. This instrument blows a small amount of air into the middle ear cavity, causing the eardrum to bend back and forth. If there is fluid in the middle ear cavity, the eardrum will not be as pliable.

Another diagnostic method is tympanometry. This test uses sound and air pressure to analyze the presence of fluid in the middle ear (this is not a hearing test!).

How is ear pain treated for colds and otitis media

Today, ear infections are mostly curable, they do not lead to permanent permanent damage to hearing with the right therapy. Treatment consists of pain relievers, antipyretics, antibiotics for bacterial infections, and / or monitoring for symptoms.

Pain relief for ear pain

Acetominaphen or ibuprofen helps relieve ear pain during colds or fever over 38.9C.These drugs relieve pain for a couple of hours (pain gets worse at night).

Antibiotics for ear infections

Antibiotics kill bacteria that cause infections. They are not necessary for ear pain associated with a cold (viral infection). Antibiotics can cause nausea, diarrhea, rashes, fungal infections, and may react with other medications.

Myringtomy (incision of the tympanic membrane) to facilitate the drainage of fluid from the ear

If fluid remains in the ear cavity for more than three months, or if the child has a recurrent infection, the doctor may resort to the following treatment: the tympanic membrane a thin metal or plastic tube is inserted to facilitate the outflow of fluid.This outpatient procedure is mainly performed on children under general anesthesia. The tube stays in the ear for eight to 18 months, then falls out on its own. In some cases, the doctor may place the tube for a longer time.

What happens if a middle ear infection is left untreated?

If left untreated, a middle ear infection can lead to severe long-term consequences, which include:

• Infection of the inner ear
• Scarring of the tympanic membrane
• Decreased or lost hearing
• Mastoiditis (inflammation of the mastoid bone) of the temporal lobe
• Meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain or spinal cord)
• Speech disorder in children
• Facial nerve palsy

Call the pediatrician immediately if the child has any of the following symptoms:

• Torticollis or neck stiffness Child quickly
• Tired, responds poorly and cannot be comforted

Call the pediatrician also if the child has the following symptoms:

• The child has pain or fever for more than 48 hours
• You have questions or concerns

900 23

How to prevent ear pain from colds or middle ear infections

There are ways to prevent ear pain in both children and adults. Frequent change of home environment is required. Surgical treatment is sometimes required. Talk to your doctor about the following prevention methods:

• Protect your child from colds, especially during the first year of life. Most ear infections start with the common cold.
• Ear infections can develop after the flu, so talk to your doctor about getting a flu shot.
• Most children receive a pneumococcal vaccine that protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae , the most common middle ear infection.If you are not sure if your child is vaccinated, ask your doctor about it. The vaccine is usually given to children under the age of two.
• Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke as it increases the frequency and severity of ear infections.
• Control allergies. Inflammation caused by allergies contributes to the development of middle ear infections.
• Where possible, breastfeed your baby for the first 6-12 months of life. The antibodies in breast milk reduce the risk of infection.
• If the baby is bottle fed, do not need to attach the bottle, hold the baby at a 45 degree angle. Feeding in a horizontal position can cause formula and other fluids to leak into the Eustachian tubes. Allowing your toddler to hold the bottle on their own is also at risk as milk or formula may accidentally enter the middle ear cavity. Weaning your baby from the bottle between the ages of nine and 12 months can help avoid these problems.
• Observe the baby’s breathing.If the baby is breathing through the mouth or snoring / snoring, this may indicate the presence of adenoids. This contributes to the development of a middle ear infection. An examination by an otolaryngologist or even surgery (adenoidectomy – removal of adenoids) may be required.

Do your ears hurt after a cold? In no case, do not allow the chronic form of Otitis media! | Health today

Colds often lead to all sorts of complications. One of the most common can be called otitis media – otitis media.

As a rule, otitis media manifests itself after colds

Associated with profuse nasal discharge. Our body is designed in such a way that the ear, nose and throat are closely connected, and malaise in one organ immediately spreads to another. We notice middle ear inflammation when the ear begins to ache, but in fact, the painful process begins much earlier.

Otitis media develops due to infection in the inner ear. More often this disease manifests itself in children, since they have very narrow Eustachian tubes.But in adults, inflammation of this kind is not uncommon.

A general decrease in immunity contributes to the development of the disease , otitis media rarely appears on its own, but “accompanies” tonsillitis, sinusitis, ARVI.

Otitis begins suddenly with a shooting pain in the ear, high temperature and fever. Hearing decreases, and a feeling of stuffiness appears in the ears. In this case, the nose is also stuffy, the nasal passages are swollen.

The culprits of otitis media are bacteria,

namely, pneumococci and staphylococci.If the inflammation does not go away on its own, pus accumulates. At this stage of the disease, the pain in the ear increases, gives off to the teeth, accompanied by a general headache. At some point, pus finds a way out and breaks through the eardrum. Discharge from the ear with otitis media is a sign of a neglected state of the disease, and, on the other hand, a sign of a decrease in symptoms. When all the pus is removed and the ruptured eardrum heals, the disease goes away.

It also happens that pus continues to accumulate, but does not come out.In this case, a visit to the ENT is necessary, which will make a puncture and remove the pus.

Treatment for otitis media is primarily symptom relief.

If there is no pus, ear drops are poured into the ears to relieve inflammation. If the discharge of pus has begun, antibiotic therapy is indicated. It is necessary to treat otitis media so as not to bring the disease to severe complications such as permanent hearing loss or meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the meninges).

In addition, properly treated otitis media does not become chronic.

She is fraught with seasonal otitis media, which appear at the slightest cold. Chronic otitis media is a persistent ear pain, poor hearing, and a damaged eardrum. It is much more difficult to treat the chronic form of this disease than the acute one, so it is better not to delay treatment.

Subscribe to our channel, like and tell your friends and colleagues on social networks about it, if it turned out to be useful.

Even if you help only 1 person, it will be our little victory!

Why does a child have ear pain when he has a cold (against the background of a runny nose and cough)?

Quite often, patients complain that when they have a runny nose for a long time, the ear begins to hurt.The clinical picture with a cold in itself carries an unpleasant sensation. The appearance of cough, runny nose, migraine, pain in the head and ears will not please anyone. A person will feel even worse if a piercing ear pain joins the colds. It is especially unpleasant if these symptoms bother a small child. In such situations, it is necessary to know not only about emergency measures to help the sick person, but also about the reasons for the appearance of a particular symptom.

Quite often it happens that if one of the ENT organs gets sick, other ENT organs are also involved in the process.This is especially true for children, in whom the auditory and nasal canals are more closely interconnected than in adults. Even a harmless cold can result in decreased hearing for the patient, nasal and ear congestion, and other troubles.

Intense ear pains following a recent runny nose are not uncommon. One of the reasons for this phenomenon is the sulfur plug formed in the ear. Sulfur masses are continuously produced inside our ears, which is the norm.They are needed to perform the protective function of the ear, preventing its infection. However, in pathological cases, the production of sulfur can increase to such an extent that blockage of the auditory canal occurs. As a result, the patient feels congestion and severe pain in the ear.

Young children very often complain of ear pain, which develops against the background of a prolonged runny nose. The reason for this condition is the structural feature of the Eustachian tube, which is very short in children, which allows the infection to easily penetrate from the nasal sinuses into the auricle.Inflammation of the middle or inner ear in otolaryngological practice is called otitis media , which often manifests itself in children after rhinitis, acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, less often develops as an independent disease.

If a child has ear pain during or after a cold, most likely, this is a sign of complications that appeared against the background of an untreated runny nose, improper nose blowing, active coughing (especially if the child coughs or blows his nose with excessive effort to “please” the parents) …In the process of the development of the inflammatory process in the nasal mucosa, the pressure inside the tympanic cavity decreases, the membrane is pressed in, which increases the pressure of the intralabyrinth fluid. Such changes cause complaints in the child not only that the ear hurts, but also a headache, “knocking” and “heaviness” in the temples, throbbing and rather severe soreness. With a runny nose, swelling of the nasal mucosa occurs, nasal breathing is disturbed, the child is often forced to breathe through the mouth, may complain of congestion in the ears, which develops after a few hours or days.

Ear pain with a runny nose or cough is not the only symptom that will bother a child. In the acute period of developing otitis media , the clinic can be quite pronounced and be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• congestion in the ear;
• body temperature from 37 to 39.5 degrees;
• hearing loss;
• tinnitus;
• pain can also be in the temples, teeth, jaw from the inflamed side.

Ear pain can be of different intensity, but, often, it is pulsating, acute, prevents children from sleeping, playing, eating, causing the baby to cry constantly, irritability.In some cases, with the development of otitis media, there is a discharge from the ear canal, which can have a transparent, greenish or yellowish tint. The appearance of any discharge from the ear canal should alert parents and cause an immediate visit to the otolaryngologist !

How can I help my child?

Ear pain in a child is sometimes unbearable, moreover, it often manifests itself at night, when there is no opportunity to visit a doctor.In such cases, parents must independently help the child, take several actions that will help reduce pain, improve the general condition of the baby.

Any anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic and antipyretic properties will help reduce soreness in the ears, relieve inflammation: Ibuprofen, Nurofen, Cefekon, Panadol, Nimulid (Nise), etc. In the process of using such drugs, the recommended age doses must be strictly observed.

The first aid for ear pain is ear drops Otipax , which begin to take effect within 5 minutes after being instilled into the ear cavity.The use of this drug will reduce inflammation, eliminate ear pain.

Vasoconstrictor nasal drops . Allow to relieve swelling, congestion, improve nasal breathing, relieve inflammation: Otrivin, Vibrocil, Naphtizin, Nazivin, Bebinos and others. The use of vasoconstrictor nasal drops allows you to expand the lumen of the Eustachian tube, improve the outflow of the contents (if any) from the auricle.

If, after first aid, the pain subsided – the child fell asleep, this does not mean that the problem is solved.Parents should still consult a doctor (as soon as possible after the onset of ear pain), this will help to exclude possible complications in the future. If the ear continues to hurt at night, an ambulance must be called urgently.

During the period of treatment, parents need to strictly follow all the doctor’s recommendations, create all conditions for the child’s speedy recovery. In addition to the main treatment, the patient needs rest, sound sleep. Overvoltage, walking, running are prohibited.If all the recommendations are followed, the disease will soon recede.

Often, especially in childhood, ear pain appears against the background of coughing due to respiratory diseases accompanied by cough (tracheitis, bronchitis, etc.). When a person coughs, germs in the nasopharynx travel through the Eustachian tube into the eardrum, causing pain and inflammation in the middle ear.

It is not enough to treat only ear pain in this case! It is not the ear pain that needs to be treated, but the cause.In this case, the treatment will be prescribed by the pediatrician after a full examination of the child. And treatment in this case will be directed to the infected airways, the elimination of pain in the ear will be only symptomatic therapy.

If does not neglect all the recommendations of doctors, you can quickly get rid of the disease.

Be healthy!

90,000 After the flu, stuffy ears? Go to Laura, this is otitis media | Healthy life | Health

First aid

Feeling of ear congestion, as after a flight in an airplane, shooting pains – this is how otitis media begins.The temperature is usually elevated, but may be normal. The disease usually does not occur on its own, it is preceded by a prolonged runny nose, SARS or flu.

Mild forms of otitis media pass quickly, sometimes even without treatment. What can be recommended as first aid?

● Put any alcohol-containing ear drops into the affected ear twice a day. Alcohol penetrates well into the eardrum, providing analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

● At night, you can make a warming compress of vodka or alcohol in half with water.

● Treat runny nose in parallel. Without the restoration of normal nasal breathing, it is impossible to cope with otitis media, because the ear and nose are like communicating vessels, the trouble in one immediately affects the other. With a runny nose, the auditory tube becomes clogged with nasal discharge, and as a result, efforts to treat otitis media do not work.

If within a few days you do not feel better, seek the advice of an otorhinolaryngologist. The doctor will clarify the diagnosis, with otitis media this is usually not difficult.

As a result of inflammation, a desquamated epidermis accumulates in the ear canal, which contains a mass of bacteria. It is difficult to remove it on your own, you can damage the walls of the ear canal, but the doctor will do it easily and quickly.

Not to do without a visit to the doctor and with otitis media caused by the influenza virus. With it, herpetic-type bubbles form in the ear canal and on the eardrum, this process is accompanied by severe pain. After the otorhinolaryngologist surgeon has opened the vesicles, there is relief.

Sometimes chronic otitis media is discovered by chance, during a routine examination. From childhood, a person hears a little worse with one ear than the other, but has long been accustomed to it, and upon examination, the doctor sees a small rupture in the eardrum.

Caution: antibiotics!

With prolonged otitis media, the doctor can take the discharge from the ear for culture in order to select an antibacterial drug taking into account the sensitivity of the microflora. If otitis media is mild, antibiotics are not needed to treat it. I want to warn you: under no circumstances use drops containing antibiotics to treat otitis media on your own! These drugs usually contain aminoglycosides, which have a toxic effect on the endings of the auditory nerves, resulting in possible hearing loss. Such drops can be used only as directed by a doctor.

Revenge for carelessness

Treatment of otitis media is quite simple and, if all recommendations are followed correctly, the disease quickly passes. But otitis media, left unattended, can take cruel revenge.

One of the complications occurs when the tympanic membrane ruptures under the pressure of purulent contents. The pain in the ear stops, the temperature decreases, and the patient may think that the recovery has begun, although the discharge from the ear does not stop. If he consults a doctor at this stage, the integrity of the tympanic membrane will be restored after treatment, if not, a persistent rupture will occur and otitis media will appear at the slightest ingress of water into the ear.

If the fluid accumulated in the ear does not break through, it becomes thicker, viscous, exudative or secretory otitis media develops.This often leads to mucosal hypersecretion. Due to the fact that the tympanic cavity is constantly filled with fluid, there is a strong hearing loss.

With advanced otitis media, scars may form in the ear canal, which limit the mobility of the tympanic membrane, the auditory ossicles, which leads to persistent hearing loss.

In such cases, complex surgical treatment is required, which does not always end with success.

Brain complications are not so rare in otitis media.Infection from the middle ear cavity can enter the meninges, which causes meningitis, abscesses, and vascular thrombosis. These meningitis are more severe than common infectious meningitis and are more difficult to treat.

Short

How to guess that it is otitis media, and not an inflammation of the facial nerve or a toothache? If the pain increases when you press the tragus or near the earlobe, you can assume the development of otitis media. Otitis externa – boils in the external passage – make themselves felt when chewing, biting: it is difficult for the patient to open his mouth.

Important

► A hot egg in the ear, potatoes, compresses with camphor alcohol – this treatment is effective at the very beginning of the disease. But if the pain persists for 2-3 days, no compresses can be done without consulting a doctor. Perhaps purulent inflammation of the middle ear has already begun, then the compresses will lead to intracranial complications. And with otitis externa, perichondritis (inflammation of the cartilaginous tissue) may develop – massive edema will make the patient lop-eared.

► Doctors do not approve of the hobby for phyto candles that are sold in pharmacies.You need to know how to use them. Most people do not know the structure of the ear, so the candles are inserted incorrectly, and then they come to the doctors with burns.

By the way

Children aged 2 to 4 years get otitis media much more often than adults. This is due to anatomical features. The auditory tube in a child is wider and shorter and does not perform as well as in an adult as a separating function between the ear cavity and the nasopharynx. Because of this, water or liquid food often gets into the ear area in babies.In more than half of young children, an effusion is found in the ear – a secret that is produced by the mucous membrane lining the walls of the tympanic cavity. The secret serves for its self-cleaning and must be transported through the auditory tube into the nasopharynx. If it is not removed, it can cause otitis media.

Untreated otitis media causes a complication – mastoiditis, in which the inflammatory process covers many of the ear cavities. In the area behind the ear, swelling occurs, soreness – a picture similar to mumps.

Children with otitis media usually sleep restlessly, often wake up at night, cry, grab a sore ear. But this disease can also occur in them in a latent form, when there is no pain. That is why it is so important to regularly show babies to otorhinolaryngologists.

Interesting

Who is most often sick with otitis media?

► Office clerks who spend all day under air conditioning.

► Allergy sufferers suffering from rhinitis.

► Diabetics who constantly take insulin.In case of inflammation in the ear, it is necessary to increase the dose of this drug.

► Owners of carious teeth.

► People with diseases caused by metabolic disorders – diabetes mellitus, urolithiasis, diseases of the pancreas.

► Those who go to the pool. Otitis externa is often referred to as swimmers otitis media. It often occurs after swimming. If you come out of the water, and your ear is blocked, it hears poorly, itches, and you distinguish an unpleasant gurgle in it, tilt your head to the right side and pull a little on the auricle.The ear canal will straighten and the water will pour out. Or jump on one leg with your “wet” ear tilted down.

See also:

90,000 Ear colds – acute and otitis media, treatment

Chapter 1. History of the development of cold treatment methods

Chapter 2. Cold on the lip

Chapter 3. Ear cold.

The resulting severe pain in the ear can be caused by various reasons, pinpoint
which only a qualified doctor can. But the most common of these is complication.
after a cold.In the professional language of medicine, this problem is called “acute
otitis media ”, referred to by ordinary people as a cold of the ear.

Ear cold is not uncommon, it is the most common complication of a cold
or the flu. It occurs especially often in people who ignore going to the doctor.
and careful treatment, transferring the disease, so to speak, “on my feet.” Typical Symptoms
– shooting pains in the ear and migraine.

Followers of traditional methods of treatment in such cases offer many
effective ways to resolve the problem:

1. To relieve inflammation, you need to apply homemade to your ear every 1. 5-2 hours
   bags of hot salt.
2. Propolis tincture is mixed with water in equal proportions. Pipette typed
   prepared liquid and dripped onto a cotton swab, which is then inserted onto
   20 minutes in a sore ear. If the tampon begins to burn immediately, it must be removed,
   dilute the liquid with water and repeat the procedure.
3. Soak a piece of cotton wool with onion juice and insert into the affected ear for 30 minutes.
4. Horseradish juice is instilled into the ear with a pipette, 2 drops three times a day, as soon as
   the pains return.
5. Eat lemon peels daily.
6. Cotton wool is moistened with calendula tincture and placed in the ear, on top of
   dry cotton wool. The head is placed with the healthy ear down. It is necessary to stay as long as possible
   in this position. The longer, the stronger the healing effect will be.
7. A sheet of any geranium is ground on a kitchen grater, the resulting mixture is embedded
   in a sore ear for 2-3 hours. Then it is advisable to immediately re-insert the fresh mixture.

Interesting facts. Ear colds are not uncommon, they are the most common complication for colds or flu. It occurs especially often in people who ignore the visit to the doctor and careful treatment, transferring the disease so say “on your feet.” Typical symptoms are shooting ear pains and migraines.

Chapter 4.Eye cold

Chapter 5. Cold during pregnancy

Chapter 6. Folk remedies for the treatment of colds

Chapter 7. Herbal medicine for colds

Chapter 8. Medical technology for the treatment of colds

.