What are the key differences between ear aches and ear infections. How can you identify the symptoms of each condition. When should you seek medical attention for ear pain. What are the most effective treatment options for ear discomfort.

Understanding the Anatomy of the Ear

To comprehend the distinctions between ear aches and ear infections, it’s crucial to have a basic understanding of ear anatomy. The ear is divided into three main sections:

• Outer ear: Includes the visible part (pinna) and the ear canal
• Middle ear: Contains the eardrum and three small bones (ossicles)
• Inner ear: Houses the cochlea and semicircular canals responsible for hearing and balance

Each of these areas can be affected by different conditions, leading to various types of ear discomfort. Understanding the anatomy helps in identifying the source of the problem and determining the appropriate course of action.

Ear Infections: Causes and Symptoms

Ear infections are among the most common causes of ear pain, especially in children. They occur when bacteria or viruses invade the middle ear, leading to inflammation and fluid buildup. What causes ear infections?

• Upper respiratory infections
• Allergies
• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• Exposure to secondhand smoke

The symptoms of ear infections can vary depending on the severity and location of the infection. Common signs include:

• Sharp, throbbing pain in the affected ear
• Fever
• Difficulty hearing or muffled sounds
• Fluid drainage from the ear
• Irritability and sleep disturbances (especially in children)

Are ear infections more common in children? Yes, due to their smaller and more horizontal Eustachian tubes, which can more easily become blocked and trap fluid in the middle ear.

Ear Aches: Beyond Infections

While ear infections are a frequent cause of ear pain, many other factors can contribute to ear aches. These include:

• Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa)
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
• Dental problems
• Sinus pressure
• Earwax buildup
• Changes in air pressure (barotrauma)
• Foreign objects in the ear canal

Can earwax cause ear pain? While excessive earwax can lead to discomfort, it typically causes a feeling of fullness or muffled hearing rather than sharp pain. However, attempts to remove earwax improperly can result in injury and subsequent pain.

Diagnosing Ear Problems: When to Seek Medical Attention

Distinguishing between a simple ear ache and a more serious condition can be challenging. It’s important to know when to consult a healthcare professional. Consider seeking medical attention if:

• Pain is severe or persists for more than 24-48 hours
• There’s fluid drainage from the ear
• You experience sudden hearing loss
• Symptoms are accompanied by a high fever
• There’s swelling or redness around the ear
• You have a history of recurrent ear infections

How do doctors diagnose ear problems? Healthcare providers typically use an otoscope to examine the ear canal and eardrum. They may also perform additional tests such as tympanometry to assess eardrum function or audiometry to evaluate hearing.

Treatment Options for Ear Aches and Infections

The appropriate treatment for ear discomfort depends on the underlying cause. Some common approaches include:

1. Over-the-counter pain relievers (e.g., acetaminophen, ibuprofen)
2. Warm or cold compresses
3. Prescription ear drops for swimmer’s ear
4. Antibiotics for bacterial infections
5. Decongestants or antihistamines for allergies or sinus pressure
6. Professional earwax removal

Is it always necessary to use antibiotics for ear infections? No, many ear infections, especially those caused by viruses, resolve on their own without antibiotics. Healthcare providers often recommend a “wait-and-see” approach for mild cases, especially in children over two years old.

Home Remedies for Ear Discomfort

While medical treatment may be necessary for some ear problems, several home remedies can help alleviate mild discomfort:

• Elevating the head while resting
• Using a warm compress
• Trying over-the-counter ear drops (with doctor approval)
• Practicing gentle ear exercises to relieve pressure
• Avoiding exposure to loud noises

Can chewing gum help with ear pain? In some cases, particularly during air travel or when experiencing changes in altitude, chewing gum can help equalize pressure in the ears and provide relief.

Prevention Strategies for Ear Health

Maintaining good ear health can help prevent many common causes of ear aches and infections. Some effective prevention strategies include:

• Practicing proper ear hygiene
• Avoiding insertion of foreign objects into the ear canal
• Using earplugs when swimming or exposed to loud noises
• Managing allergies and sinus problems
• Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke
• Staying up-to-date with vaccinations

How can you protect your ears during air travel? To minimize discomfort during takeoff and landing, try swallowing, yawning, or using the Valsalva maneuver (gently blowing out while pinching your nostrils closed and keeping your mouth shut).

Special Considerations for Children’s Ear Health

Children are particularly susceptible to ear problems, especially ear infections. Parents and caregivers should be aware of the following:

• Recognizing signs of ear discomfort in non-verbal children
• The importance of proper bottle-feeding techniques
• When to consider ear tubes for recurrent infections
• The role of second-hand smoke in increasing ear infection risk

Do pacifiers increase the risk of ear infections? Some studies suggest that prolonged pacifier use, especially after six months of age, may increase the risk of ear infections. However, the evidence is not conclusive, and the benefits of pacifier use (such as reducing the risk of SIDS) may outweigh this potential risk in some cases.

Understanding Chronic Ear Problems

While many ear aches and infections are acute and resolve quickly, some individuals may experience chronic ear issues. These can include:

• Chronic otitis media (long-term middle ear inflammation)
• Cholesteatoma (abnormal skin growth in the middle ear)
• Ménière’s disease (inner ear disorder affecting balance and hearing)
• Tinnitus (persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears)

Can chronic ear problems lead to permanent hearing loss? In some cases, untreated or recurrent ear infections can result in hearing impairment. This underscores the importance of proper medical care and follow-up for persistent ear issues.

The Role of Allergies in Ear Health

Allergies can significantly impact ear health, contributing to both ear aches and infections. Allergic reactions can cause:

• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• Increased mucus production
• Nasal congestion
• Sinus pressure

These factors can create an environment conducive to ear infections and discomfort. Managing allergies through medication, environmental controls, and in some cases, immunotherapy, can help reduce the frequency and severity of ear problems.

Technological Advancements in Ear Care

Recent years have seen significant developments in the diagnosis and treatment of ear conditions. Some notable advancements include:

• Improved imaging techniques for more accurate diagnosis
• Advanced hearing aid technology
• Minimally invasive surgical procedures
• Ototoxicity monitoring to prevent medication-induced hearing loss
• Telemedicine options for remote ear examinations

How has telemedicine impacted ear care? Telemedicine has made it possible for patients to receive initial consultations and follow-up care for certain ear conditions without the need for in-person visits. This can be particularly beneficial for those in rural areas or with limited access to specialists.

The Connection Between Ear Health and Overall Well-being

It’s important to recognize that ear health is intimately connected to overall physical and mental well-being. Chronic ear problems can lead to:

• Sleep disturbances
• Difficulties in communication
• Impaired cognitive function, especially in children
• Balance issues and increased risk of falls
• Social isolation and depression

Addressing ear health concerns promptly and effectively can have far-reaching positive impacts on an individual’s quality of life.

Navigating the Healthcare System for Ear Issues

Seeking appropriate care for ear problems involves understanding the healthcare system and knowing when to consult different specialists. Key points to consider include:

• The role of primary care physicians in initial diagnosis and treatment
• When to see an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) specialist
• The importance of audiologists in hearing assessment and management
• Understanding insurance coverage for ear-related treatments
• Exploring clinical trials for new ear treatments

What questions should you ask your healthcare provider about ear health? Important inquiries include the specific diagnosis, treatment options, potential complications, and preventive measures to avoid future problems.

The Impact of Lifestyle Factors on Ear Health

Various lifestyle choices can influence ear health and susceptibility to ear aches and infections. Consider the following factors:

• Diet and nutrition
• Hydration levels
• Stress management
• Sleep habits
• Exercise and physical activity

Can certain foods affect ear health? While there’s no definitive diet for ear health, some studies suggest that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, C, and E, and zinc may support overall ear function and potentially reduce inflammation.

Future Directions in Ear Health Research

Ongoing research in ear health promises exciting developments for the future. Some areas of focus include:

• Gene therapy for inherited hearing disorders
• Stem cell treatments for hearing loss
• Advanced drug delivery systems for inner ear treatment
• Artificial intelligence in diagnostic processes
• Personalized medicine approaches for ear conditions

These advancements hold the potential to revolutionize the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various ear conditions, potentially reducing the incidence and impact of ear aches and infections.

Understanding the differences between ear aches and ear infections, as well as the broader context of ear health, empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their care. By recognizing symptoms, seeking appropriate medical attention, and adopting preventive measures, it’s possible to maintain optimal ear health and overall well-being. As research continues to advance, we can look forward to even more effective strategies for managing and preventing ear-related issues in the future.

Ear Ache vs. Ear Infection: What’s the Difference?

Ear pain can range from a minor nuisance to a major source of agony. Ear pain is a common problem, especially in children, and can have a number of causes – some of which have nothing to do with the ear.

But how to know whether it’s an ear ache or an ear infection? And when is it serious enough to seek medical help? We talked with UH family medicine physician Meredith Hale, DO, to find out.

Ear Infections

Ear infections are the most common cause of ear pain. It’s especially common in children and is the most common reason parents bring their child to a doctor. In fact, five out of six children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday.

An ear infection happens when fluid in the interior space behind the eardrum becomes infected, usually with bacteria. The tube leading into the body becomes blocked, and fluid builds up behind the eardrum. The increased pressure pushes the eardrum outward, causing pain and fever.

An ear infection often occurs after a sore throat, cold or other upper respiratory infection, Dr. Hale says. Symptoms include hearing loss, fever and feeling unwell.

Most ear infections happen to children before they’ve learned how to talk. Here are a few things parents should look for if they suspect their young child has an ear infection:

• Tugging or pulling at the ear
• Fussiness and crying
• Trouble sleeping
• Fluid draining from the ear
• Clumsiness or balance problems

Ear Ache

Ear aches are not always caused by an ear infection. Other conditions also can cause ear ache or ear pain, especially in adults.

Ear ache is often described as a feeling of pressure in the ear.

“It can begin suddenly or gradually, and it can be quite severe,” Dr. Hale says.

Aside from infection of the inner ear, other causes of ear pain include:

• Injury
• Swimmer’s ear – inflammation and infection in the channel that leads from the eardrum to the outside.
• Cellulitis — infection of the external ear and ear lobe
• Pain caused by irritation of the nerves in the ear
• Pain from a sore throat or a problem with the jaw joints
• Referred pain from infections or inflammation elsewhere in the body such as a toothache
• Allergic reactions from soap, shampoo, earrings or other allergens
• Water trapped in the ear
• Changes in altitude

Many people wonder if ear wax buildup causes ear pain. Normally, your ear canal does not need to be cleaned. But sometimes ear wax does build up, become impacted and cause symptoms, usually a sensation of fullness or muffled sound as if you are wearing ear plugs.

“When too much wax blocks the ear, you may feel pressure, but this usually doesn’t cause pain,” Dr. Hale says.

When To See a Doctor

Ear infections don’t always need to be treated with antibiotics. “Sometimes, we observe and initiate antibiotic therapy if signs and symptoms worsen or fail to improve after 48 to 72 hours,” Dr. Hale says.

If your child has repeated ear infections or trouble hearing, your doctor may suggest meeting with an ear, nose and throat specialist to discuss placing small tubes in your child’s ear to help maintain a healthy environment.

If you experience intense pain, a high fever or a hearing loss, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately, Dr. Hale says.

Related Links

At University Hospitals, we believe having a primary care provider is essential to your health and well-being. Our primary care physicians and nurses provide comprehensive, compassionate and continuous primary care for patients of all ages. We are committed to building a healthy relationship with you and your family to detect and minimize long-term health issues, or just help you get over that illness that’s going around. Need a primary care provider? Find one here.

Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

Earaches usually occur in children, but they can also occur in adults. Injury, infection, irritation in the ear, or referred pain may cause earaches.

An earache may affect one or both of your ears. But most of the time, it’s in one ear. It may be constant or come and go, and the pain may be dull, sharp, or burning.

If you have an ear infection, you may also get a fever, and temporary hearing loss may occur. Young children who have ear infections tend to be fussy and irritable. They may also tug or rub their ears.

Read on for other symptoms, causes, treatments, and more.

Earaches can develop from ear infections or injury. Symptoms in adults include:

• ear pain
• impaired hearing
• fluid drainage from ear

Children can typically show additional symptoms, such as:

• ear pain
• muffled hearing or difficulty responding to sounds
• fever
• sense of fullness in the ear
• difficulty sleeping
• tugging or pulling at the ear
• crying or acting irritable more than usual
• headache
• loss of appetite
• loss of balance

Ear pain is felt somewhere other than the infection or injured site. For example, pain in the jaw or teeth may be felt in the ear.

Causes of earaches can include:

Ear infections

Ear infections are a common cause of earaches or ear pain. Ear infections can occur in the outer, middle, and inner ear.

Outer ear infection can be caused by swimming, wearing hearing aids or headphones that damage the skin inside the ear canal, or putting cotton swabs or fingers in the ear canal.

Skin in the ear canal that gets scratched or irritated can lead to infection. Water softens the skin in the ear canal, which can create a breeding ground for bacteria.

Middle ear infection can be caused by infections that stem from a respiratory tract infection. Fluid buildup behind the ear drums caused by these infections can breed bacteria.

Labyrinthitis is an inner ear disorder that’s sometimes caused by viral or bacterial infections from respiratory illnesses.

Other common causes of earaches

• change in pressure, such as when flying on a plane
• earwax buildup
• a foreign object in the ear
• strep throat
• sinus infection
• shampoo or water trapped in the ear
• use of cotton swabs in the ear

Less common causes of earaches

• temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome
• perforated eardrum
• arthritis affecting the jaw
• infected tooth
• impacted tooth
• eczema in the ear canal
• trigeminal neuralgia (chronic facial nerve pain)

You can take several steps at home to reduce earache pain. Try these options to ease the ear pain:

• Apply a cold washcloth to the ear.
• Avoid getting the ear wet.
• Sit upright to help relieve ear pressure.
• Use over-the-counter (OTC) ear drops.
• Take OTC pain relievers.
• Chew gum to help relieve pressure.
• Feed an infant to help them relieve their pressure.

If you have an ear infection, your doctor will prescribe oral antibiotics or eardrops. In some cases, they’ll prescribe both.

Don’t stop taking the medication once your symptoms improve. It’s important that you finish your entire prescription to ensure that the infection will clear up completely.

If a buildup of wax is causing your ear pain, you may be given wax-softening eardrops. They may cause the wax to fall out on its own. Your doctor may also flush out the wax using a process called ear lavage, or they may use a suction device to remove the wax.

Your doctor will treat TMJ, sinus infections, and other causes of earaches directly to improve your ear pain.

If you or your child has a persistent fever of 104ºF (40 ºC) or higher, seek medical attention. For an infant, seek medical help immediately for a fever higher than 101ºF (38ºC). The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you don’t already have a doctor.

You should also seek immediate medical attention if you have severe pain that stops suddenly. This could be a sign of the eardrum rupturing.

You should also watch for other symptoms. If any of the following symptoms appear, make an appointment with your doctor:

• severe ear pain
• dizziness
• bad headache
• swelling around the ear
• drooping of the facial muscles
• blood or pus draining from the ear

You should also make an appointment with your doctor if an earache gets worse or doesn’t improve in 24 to 48 hours.

You can book an appointment with a primary care doctor in your area using our Healthline FindCare tool.

Some earaches may be preventable. Try these preventive measures:

• Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Keep foreign objects out of the ear.
• Dry the ears after swimming or bathing.

Avoid allergy triggers, such as dust and pollen.

Read this article in Spanish.

Ear hurts

Arthritis

Otitis

Labyrinthite

Mastoiditis

5731

09 June

Ear hurts – the causes of the appearance, in which diseases it occurs, diagnosis and methods of treatment.

Ear pain can be caused by diseases of different parts of the hearing organ, nearby organs, head injuries, and can also appear due to the spread of pain from other parts of the body. Such pain is caused by inflammatory, skin, neurological, dental, rheumatic, infectious pathologies.

The nature of such pain does not explain the cause of the disease. The doctor should evaluate the results of laboratory and instrumental examinations in order to clarify the diagnosis.

Types of pain in the ears

Most often, these pains are the result of otitis media – a disease of the outer, middle or inner ear.

Mastoiditis, arthritis of the temporomandibular joint, inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes – these are pathologies of nearby organs that often cause ear pain.

Ear pain can occur due to the spread of pain along the cranial nerves. For example, a toothache radiates through the auditory branch of the trigeminal nerve to the ears.

Traumatic rupture of the eardrum is the cause of ear pain due to damage from falls, blows to the head.

We will talk about the diseases that most often cause ear pain.

Possible causes

Mastoid pain

Mastoiditis, that is, purulent inflammation of the bone tissue of the mastoid process of the temporal bone, located behind the auricle, is the most characteristic complication of otitis media and a frequent consequence of its improper treatment.

Pain in otitis externa

Otitis externa is an inflammation of the outer ear, which consists of the auricle, the external auditory canal and the tympanic membrane separating it from the middle ear. The main symptom of the disease is a boil – a purulent inflammation of the hair follicle that captures the sebaceous gland. Sometimes boils can appear after cleaning the ears too hard, when microtraumas form on the skin of the ear canal, through which the infection penetrates.

Pain in otitis media

Behind the tympanic membrane begins the middle section of the organ of hearing. It is a small, air-filled space in the temporal bone between the external auditory meatus and the inner ear.

There are three tiny bones here: the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. The eardrum vibrates under the influence of acoustic waves. The vibrations are transmitted to the bones. Through the oval window separating the middle and inner ear, the stirrup sends a signal to the fluid that fills the inner ear – the perilymph.

Otitis media begins as a complication not of otitis externa, but of acute respiratory infections, influenza, tonsillitis.

With these ailments, an excess amount of mucus is formed, which enters the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx and equalizes air pressure in both directions. If this organ becomes inflamed, eustacheitis develops – a frequent companion of otitis media.

Otitis internal pain

Otitis media is also called labyrinthitis, because the inner ear is called a labyrinth because of its peculiar shape. Its main function is to conduct sound waves and convert them into electrical impulses for the brain. The cochlea, which is part of the labyrinth, belongs to the organ of hearing. The other two parts – the vestibule of the cochlea and the semicircular canals – to the organ of balance.

Labyrinthitis is usually a complication of otitis media.

Less commonly, this disease occurs as a result of microtrauma through the tympanic membrane and middle ear with sharp objects, which are sometimes recklessly cleaned ears, or as a result of damage to the temporal bone during head injuries.

What diseases occur

Mastoid pain

Ear pain is very severe, often covering half of the head on the side of the lesion, aggravated at night.

The remaining symptoms of mastoiditis occur in severe otitis media. These are noise in the ear, severe hearing loss, fever, a significant deterioration in the general condition, suppuration from the ear, detected during otoscopy.

Pain in otitis externa

The pain gradually increases as the follicle matures, it can radiate to the jaw, neck, intensify when chewing and pressing on the tragus – a cartilaginous protrusion on the outer ear. The pain is accompanied by itching, a feeling of fullness in the ear. Hearing may deteriorate, body temperature may rise.

Pain in otitis media

Pulsating, aching, shooting, often radiating to the teeth and back of the head, earache usually appears with fever. Ear pain with otitis externa and otitis media is easy to distinguish. In the first case, it intensifies if you press on the tragus, in the second it remains unchanged.

Pain due to labyrinthitis

Such pain in the ear is accompanied by hearing loss, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, headaches, staggering when walking, involuntary twitching of the muscles of the eyeball.

Diagnostics and examinations

Pain in otitis externa

Otoscopy – examination of the external auditory canal and eardrum by an ENT doctor using specialized instruments.

Pain in otitis media

Hearing assessment using an audiometric examination, including tuning fork tests. These are tests with tuning forks, which make it possible to determine whether hearing loss is associated with inflammation in the middle ear or with damage to the auditory nerve. Bacterial culture from the middle ear is performed to determine sensitivity to an extended spectrum of antimicrobials, radiography or CT of the temporal bone, as well as tympanometry, in which the mobility of the tympanic membrane is assessed.

Pain associated with labyrinthitis and mastoiditis

Audio and vestibulometric examinations, bacterial culture from the middle ear with the determination of sensitivity to an extended spectrum of antimicrobials, radiography or CT of the temporal bone.

The procedure in which the doctor removes material from the middle ear cavity for analysis is called tympanocentesis. This method, performed after local anesthesia, is also used to pump out pus from the middle ear cavity.

What should be done when pain occurs?

If you experience ear pain, see your doctor right away.

If the pain is accompanied by fever and hearing loss, do not go outside, call a doctor at home.

Which doctors should I contact?

Inflammatory skin diseases that cause otitis externa can be treated by a general practitioner or surgeon, but it is better to consult an ENT doctor. And only this specialist should treat otitis media and mastoiditis. An ENT doctor and a neurologist will help in the treatment of labyrinthitis.

Treatment

Mastoid pain

The basis of the treatment of mastoiditis, as well as labyrinthitis, is antibiotic therapy, which is prescribed only by a doctor. Depending on the severity of the disease, operations are used: puncture of the eardrum to ensure the outflow of pus; mastoidectomy (rarely) – removal of pus from the air cells of the mastoid process.

Pain in otitis externa

The treatment of otitis externa is based on the use of drops, ointments, creams containing antiseptics in combination with anti-inflammatory and analgesic components. According to indications, surgical treatment is used (opening of mature boils).

Pain in otitis media

Drops with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects are instilled into the ears, vasoconstrictor drops are instilled into the nose, reducing swelling of the nasopharynx and pharyngeal mouth of the Eustachian tube, and reducing the formation of mucus. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics. In the case of advanced otitis media, a puncture of the eardrum is used to free the middle ear cavity from pus.

Pain due to labyrinthitis

Labyrinthitis is treated only in a hospital by an otolaryngologist and a neurologist, and, if necessary, by an infectious disease specialist and a neurosurgeon. In addition to antibiotic therapy, a labyrinthotomy operation is often needed. This is the name of the opening by the surgeon of the semicircular canals of the ear labyrinth to ensure the outflow of pus and stop the infection from entering the cranial cavity.

Sources:

1. Clinical guidelines “Otitis externa” (children). Developed by: Union of Pediatricians of Russia, National Medical Association of Otorhinolaryngologists, Interregional Association for Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. – 2021.
2. Clinical guidelines “otitis externa” (adults). Developed by: National Medical Association of Otorhinolaryngologists. – 2021.
3. Clinical guidelines “Otitis media acute”. Developed by: National Medical Association of Otorhinolaryngologists. – 2021.
4. Clinical guidelines “Chronic otitis media”. Developed by: National Medical Association of Otorhinolaryngologists. – 2021.

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact your doctor.
For a correct assessment of the results of your analyzes in dynamics, it is preferable to do studies in the same laboratory, since different laboratories may use different research methods and units of measurement to perform the same analyzes.

What to do when your ear hurts – an article on the site Aptechestvo, Nizhny Novgorod

Ear pain in adults or ear pain in a child is simply exhausting. Usually it is accompanied by discomfort, fatigue, sleep disturbance, loud crying. Practice shows that people with ear pain make many mistakes that lead to complications. What to do when your ear hurts? First of all, you need to consult a doctor who will diagnose ear pain and prescribe the appropriate course of treatment.

When an adult’s ear hurts or a child’s ear hurts, discomfort can occur in different departments. We will analyze them in accordance with the generally accepted classification.

Pain in the outer ear

This part of the auditory organ is considered the most unprotected for infections. Why does my ear hurt? Very often, pain occurs due to inflammatory processes caused by bacteria. Another reason is improper cleaning, physical damage, foreign bodies. All this leads to the appearance of boils and even eczema. In such cases, doctors put otitis externa.

Pain in the middle ear

Ear pain can also appear in the middle ear. The department is closely connected with the outer ear and nasopharynx. Therefore, it is also characterized by the appearance of infections. Pathologies in the middle ear are accompanied by shooting pain, pulsation, hearing loss, distortion of the perception of one’s own voice.

Main pathologies:

• inflammatory processes;

• tumors in the tympanic cavity;

• trauma and breach of integrity;

• problems in the auditory tube.

In some cases, severe ear pain may appear after going to the pool. Pain extends both to the outer ear, where the infection could have entered, and to the middle ear, where pain is caused by the strong pressure of water when diving to depth.

Pathologies of the inner ear

The defeat of the inner ear in most cases is not accompanied by pain. Therefore, here, it is best to talk about pathologies. The main symptoms: impaired coordination, periodic nausea, extraneous sounds, headaches, dizziness and rapid hearing loss.