How is a middle ear infection diagnosed. What are the available treatment options for earaches. When should you seek medical attention for an ear infection. How can you manage ear pain at home. What are the risks of using antibiotics for ear infections. When is a wait-and-see approach recommended for ear infections. How do doctors determine the best course of treatment for ear infections.

Diagnosing Middle Ear Infections: Tools and Techniques

Middle ear infections, also known as otitis media, are a common ailment, especially in children. Proper diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment. Let’s explore the diagnostic tools and techniques used by healthcare professionals to identify ear infections.

The Otoscope Examination

The primary tool for diagnosing ear infections is the otoscope. This lighted instrument allows doctors to visualize the ear canal and eardrum. During the examination, the doctor looks for signs of inflammation, fluid buildup, or other abnormalities that may indicate an infection.

Pneumatic Otoscopy: Assessing Eardrum Mobility

A pneumatic otoscope is an advanced version of the standard otoscope. It allows the doctor to puff a small amount of air into the ear canal. This action helps assess the mobility of the eardrum, which can be impaired if there’s fluid in the middle ear.

• Normal eardrum: Moves easily with air puff
• Infected ear: Shows little to no movement due to fluid buildup

Additional Diagnostic Tests

In some cases, additional tests may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis or assess the severity of an ear infection:

1. Tympanometry: Measures eardrum movement and middle ear pressure
2. Acoustic reflectometry: Evaluates sound reflection from the eardrum
3. Tympanocentesis: Rare procedure to drain and test middle ear fluid
4. Hearing and developmental tests: For recurring or chronic infections

Understanding Different Types of Ear Infections

Ear infections can be classified into several types, each with its own characteristics and treatment approaches. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for proper management.

Acute Otitis Media (AOM)

Acute otitis media is the most common type of ear infection. It is characterized by the rapid onset of symptoms and signs of middle ear inflammation. Doctors diagnose AOM when they observe fluid in the middle ear accompanied by signs of infection and sudden symptom onset.

Otitis Media with Effusion (OME)

OME occurs when there is fluid in the middle ear without active signs of infection. This condition may develop after an acute ear infection or due to eustachian tube dysfunction. While less severe than AOM, OME can still cause discomfort and hearing difficulties.

Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM)

CSOM is a long-term condition resulting from a persistent ear infection that has caused a perforation in the eardrum. This type of infection is often associated with ongoing drainage of pus from the ear and requires specialized treatment.

Treatment Approaches for Ear Infections: From Wait-and-See to Antibiotics

The treatment of ear infections varies depending on factors such as the patient’s age, severity of symptoms, and type of infection. Let’s explore the different approaches healthcare providers may consider.

The Wait-and-See Approach

Many ear infections, particularly in older children and adults, resolve on their own without antibiotic treatment. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend a wait-and-see approach in certain situations:

• Children 6-23 months with mild pain in one ear for less than 48 hours and temperature below 102.2°F (39°C)
• Children 24 months and older with mild pain in one or both ears for less than 48 hours and temperature below 102.2°F (39°C)

This approach involves monitoring symptoms closely and only starting antibiotics if the condition worsens or fails to improve within a few days.

Antibiotic Therapy: When Is It Necessary?

While many ear infections resolve without antibiotics, there are situations where antibiotic treatment is recommended. These may include:

• Severe symptoms or high fever
• Young infants (under 6 months)
• Persistent symptoms after 48-72 hours of observation
• Recurrent infections

The decision to use antibiotics should be made carefully, considering the potential benefits and risks, including the development of antibiotic resistance.

Managing Ear Pain: Effective Relief Strategies

Ear pain is often the most distressing symptom of an ear infection. Fortunately, there are several strategies to manage this discomfort effectively.

Over-the-Counter Pain Medications

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are commonly recommended for pain relief. These medications can help reduce pain and fever associated with ear infections. It’s crucial to follow dosage instructions carefully and consult a healthcare provider if you have any concerns.

Anesthetic Ear Drops

In some cases, doctors may recommend anesthetic ear drops to provide localized pain relief. These drops can be particularly effective if the eardrum is intact. However, they should only be used under medical supervision and are contraindicated if there’s a perforation in the eardrum.

Home Remedies for Ear Pain

Several home remedies can complement medical treatments and provide additional comfort:

• Warm compress: Applying a warm, damp washcloth to the affected ear can help alleviate pain
• Elevated sleeping position: Sleeping with the head elevated can help drain fluid from the ear
• Chewing or yawning: These actions can help equalize pressure in the ears

The Role of Antibiotics in Treating Ear Infections

Antibiotics play a significant role in treating certain ear infections, but their use must be carefully considered. Understanding when and how antibiotics are used can help patients make informed decisions about their treatment.

When Are Antibiotics Prescribed?

Doctors typically prescribe antibiotics for ear infections in the following situations:

• Severe symptoms or high fever
• Infections in very young children
• Persistent symptoms after a period of observation
• Presence of certain risk factors or complications

Types of Antibiotics Used

The choice of antibiotic depends on several factors, including the severity of the infection and local resistance patterns. Common antibiotics prescribed for ear infections include:

1. Amoxicillin
2. Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin)
3. Cefdinir
4. Azithromycin (for patients allergic to penicillin)

Potential Risks and Side Effects

While antibiotics can be effective in treating ear infections, they also come with potential risks:

• Antibiotic resistance: Overuse of antibiotics can lead to the development of resistant bacteria
• Side effects: Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, and rash
• Disruption of gut microbiome: Antibiotics can affect the balance of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system

These risks underscore the importance of using antibiotics judiciously and only when necessary.

Preventing Ear Infections: Proactive Measures

While not all ear infections can be prevented, certain measures can help reduce the risk of developing them, especially in children who are prone to recurrent infections.

Lifestyle and Environmental Factors

Several lifestyle modifications can contribute to reducing the risk of ear infections:

• Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke
• Practice good hand hygiene to prevent the spread of viruses
• Breastfeed infants when possible, as it can boost immune function
• Avoid bottle-feeding while lying down

Vaccinations

Certain vaccinations can help prevent infections that may lead to ear problems:

1. Pneumococcal vaccine: Protects against a common cause of ear infections
2. Influenza vaccine: Reduces the risk of flu-related ear infections

Addressing Allergies and Sinus Problems

Managing allergies and sinus issues can help prevent ear infections by reducing inflammation in the nasal passages and eustachian tubes. This may involve:

• Using allergy medications as prescribed
• Avoiding known allergens
• Using nasal saline rinses to clear sinuses

When to Seek Medical Attention for an Ear Infection

While many ear infections resolve on their own, there are situations where medical attention is necessary. Recognizing these scenarios can help ensure timely and appropriate treatment.

Red Flags for Immediate Medical Care

Seek immediate medical attention if you or your child experiences:

• Severe ear pain
• High fever (102.2°F or 39°C or higher)
• Discharge of blood or pus from the ear
• Swelling or redness behind the ear
• Stiff neck or severe headache

Signs of Potential Complications

Certain symptoms may indicate complications from an ear infection and require prompt evaluation:

1. Persistent symptoms beyond 2-3 days
2. Hearing loss or changes in hearing
3. Balance problems or dizziness
4. Recurrent ear infections

Follow-Up Care

Even if initial symptoms improve, follow-up care may be necessary in some cases:

• To ensure complete resolution of the infection
• To monitor for potential complications
• To address any underlying factors contributing to recurrent infections

Regular check-ups with a healthcare provider can help manage chronic or recurrent ear problems effectively.

Long-Term Management of Recurrent Ear Infections

For individuals who experience frequent ear infections, long-term management strategies may be necessary to prevent complications and improve quality of life.

Tympanostomy Tubes

In cases of recurrent ear infections or persistent fluid in the middle ear, doctors may recommend the insertion of tympanostomy tubes. These small tubes are placed in the eardrum to:

• Allow fluid to drain from the middle ear
• Equalize pressure between the middle ear and the environment
• Reduce the frequency of ear infections

The procedure is typically quick and can provide long-lasting relief for many patients.

Addressing Underlying Factors

Identifying and addressing factors that contribute to recurrent ear infections is crucial for long-term management. This may involve:

1. Treating chronic allergies or sinus problems
2. Evaluating for anatomical issues that may predispose to infections
3. Assessing immune function in cases of very frequent infections

Ongoing Monitoring and Prevention

For those with a history of recurrent ear infections, ongoing monitoring and preventive measures are important:

• Regular check-ups with an ear, nose, and throat specialist
• Prompt treatment of upper respiratory infections
• Maintaining good ear hygiene practices
• Considering prophylactic antibiotics in select cases (under medical supervision)

By implementing these strategies, many individuals can effectively manage and reduce the impact of recurrent ear infections on their daily lives.

Ear infection (middle ear) – Diagnosis & treatment

Diagnosis

Your doctor can usually diagnose an ear infection or another condition based on the symptoms you describe and an exam. The doctor will likely use a lighted instrument (an otoscope) to look at the ears, throat and nasal passage. He or she will also likely listen to your child breathe with a stethoscope.

Pneumatic otoscope

An instrument called a pneumatic otoscope is often the only specialized tool a doctor needs to diagnose an ear infection. This instrument enables the doctor to look in the ear and judge whether there is fluid behind the eardrum. With the pneumatic otoscope, the doctor gently puffs air against the eardrum. Normally, this puff of air would cause the eardrum to move. If the middle ear is filled with fluid, your doctor will observe little to no movement of the eardrum.

Additional tests

Your doctor may perform other tests if there is any doubt about a diagnosis, if the condition hasn’t responded to previous treatments, or if there are other long-term or serious problems.

• Tympanometry. This test measures the movement of the eardrum. The device, which seals off the ear canal, adjusts air pressure in the canal, which causes the eardrum to move. The device measures how well the eardrum moves and provides an indirect measure of pressure within the middle ear.
• Acoustic reflectometry. This test measures how much sound is reflected back from the eardrum — an indirect measure of fluids in the middle ear. Normally, the eardrum absorbs most of the sound. However, the more pressure there is from fluid in the middle ear, the more sound the eardrum will reflect.
• Tympanocentesis. Rarely, a doctor may use a tiny tube that pierces the eardrum to drain fluid from the middle ear — a procedure called tympanocentesis. The fluid is tested for viruses and bacteria. This can be helpful if an infection hasn’t responded well to previous treatments.
• Other tests. If your child has had multiple ear infections or fluid buildup in the middle ear, your doctor may refer you to a hearing specialist (audiologist), speech therapist or developmental therapist for tests of hearing, speech skills, language comprehension or developmental abilities.

What a diagnosis means

• Acute otitis media. The diagnosis of “ear infection” is generally shorthand for acute otitis media. Your doctor likely makes this diagnosis if he or she sees signs of fluid in the middle ear, if there are signs or symptoms of an infection, and if symptoms started relatively suddenly.
• Otitis media with effusion. If the diagnosis is otitis media with effusion, the doctor has found evidence of fluid in the middle ear, but there are presently no signs or symptoms of infection.
• Chronic suppurative otitis media. If the doctor makes a diagnosis of chronic suppurative otitis media, he or she has found that a long-term ear infection resulted in tearing of the eardrum. This is usually associated with pus draining from the ear.

Treatment

Some ear infections resolve without antibiotic treatment. What’s best for your child depends on many factors, including your child’s age and the severity of symptoms.

A wait-and-see approach

Symptoms of ear infections usually improve within the first couple of days, and most infections clear up on their own within one to two weeks without any treatment. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend a wait-and-see approach as one option for:

• Children 6 to 23 months with mild middle ear pain in one ear for less than 48 hours and a temperature less than 102.2 F (39 C)
• Children 24 months and older with mild middle ear pain in one or both ears for less than 48 hours and a temperature less than 102.2 F (39 C)

Some evidence suggests that treatment with antibiotics might be helpful for certain children with ear infections. On the other hand, using antibiotics too often can cause bacteria to become resistant to the medicine. Talk with your doctor about the potential benefits and risks of using antibiotics.

Managing pain

Your doctor will advise you on treatments to lessen pain from an ear infection. These may include the following:

• Pain medication. Your doctor may advise the use of over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) to relieve pain. Use the drugs as directed on the label. Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin because aspirin has been linked with Reye’s syndrome. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
• Anesthetic drops. These may be used to relieve pain if the eardrum doesn’t have a hole or tear in it.

Antibiotic therapy

After an initial observation period, your doctor may recommend antibiotic treatment for an ear infection in the following situations:

• Children 6 months and older with moderate to severe ear pain in one or both ears for at least 48 hours or a temperature of 102.2 F (39 C) or higher
• Children 6 to 23 months with mild middle ear pain in one or both ears for less than 48 hours and a temperature less than 102. 2 F (39 C)
• Children 24 months and older with mild middle ear pain in one or both ears for less than 48 hours and a temperature less than 102.2 F (39 C)

Children younger than 6 months of age with confirmed acute otitis media are more likely to be treated with antibiotics without the initial observational waiting time.

Even after symptoms have improved, be sure to use the antibiotic as directed. Failing to take all the medicine can lead to recurring infection and resistance of bacteria to antibiotic medications. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what to do if you accidentally miss a dose.

Ear tubes

If your child has certain conditions, your child’s doctor may recommend a procedure to drain fluid from the middle ear. If your child has repeated, long-term ear infections (chronic otitis media) or continuous fluid buildup in the ear after an infection cleared up (otitis media with effusion), your child’s doctor may suggest this procedure.

During an outpatient surgical procedure called a myringotomy, a surgeon creates a tiny hole in the eardrum that enables him or her to suction fluids out of the middle ear. A tiny tube (tympanostomy tube) is placed in the opening to help ventilate the middle ear and prevent the buildup of more fluids. Some tubes are intended to stay in place for four to 18 months and then fall out on their own. Other tubes are designed to stay in longer and may need to be surgically removed.

The eardrum usually closes up again after the tube falls out or is removed.

Tympanostomy tubes

Ear tubes (tympanostomy tubes, ventilation tubes, pressure equalization tubes) are tiny cylinders, usually made of plastic or metal, that are surgically inserted into the eardrum. An ear tube creates an airway that ventilates the middle ear and prevents the accumulation of fluids behind the eardrum.

Treatment for chronic suppurative otitis media

Chronic infection that results in a hole or tear in the eardrum — called chronic suppurative otitis media — is difficult to treat. It’s often treated with antibiotics administered as drops. You may receive instructions on how to suction fluids out through the ear canal before administering drops.

Monitoring

Children who have frequent infections or who have persistent fluid in the middle ear will need to be monitored closely. Talk to your doctor about how often you should schedule follow-up appointments. Your doctor may recommend regular hearing and language tests.

More Information

Clinical trials

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.

Preparing for your appointment

You’ll likely begin by seeing your family doctor or your child’s pediatrician. You may be referred to a specialist in ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders if the problem has persisted for some time, is not responding to treatment or has occurred frequently.

If your child is old enough to respond, before your appointment talk to the child about questions the doctor may ask and be prepared to answer questions on behalf of your child. Questions for adults will address most of the same issues.

• What signs or symptoms have you noticed?
• When did the symptoms begin?
• Is there ear pain? How would you describe the pain — mild, moderate or severe?
• Have you observed possible signs of pain in your infant or toddler, such as ear pulling, difficulty sleeping or unusual irritability?
• Has your child had a fever?
• Has there been any discharge from the ear? Is the discharge clear, cloudy or bloody?
• Have you observed any hearing impairment? Does your child respond to quiet sounds? Does your older child ask “What?” frequently?
• Has your child recently had a cold, flu or other respiratory symptoms?
• Does your child have seasonal allergies?
• Has your child had an ear infection in the past? When?
• Is your child allergic to any medication, such as amoxicillin?

Ear Infection Treatments, Antibiotics, & Medications

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Is My Doctor Looking For?
• Treatments
• Pain Relief
• Antibiotics
• Drainage
• Natural Remedies
• More

If you care for children, you likely know already how often they come down with earaches. Adults get them, too, but youngsters have them much more often. That’s because they don’t fight off viruses and bacteria as well, and their little ears aren’t good at draining fluids yet.

You or your child may have a sore throat, stuffy nose, or fever along with an earache. These are signs of a possible infection.

Call your doctor so she can find out for sure what’s going on. If it is an infection, she can recommend the best treatment for your case.

Your doctor will ask you about any symptoms you’ve had. Be sure to come to the office with any notes you might need and questions on your mind.

She will look at the eardrum with an instrument called an otoscope for signs of infection. This is a tough task with a fussy infant, so be ready to help calm the little one if it’s your child with the earache.

Signs of infection include a red eardrum or a bulging eardrum with fluid behind it. The fluid may be thin like during a cold, or thick like pus. It is located in the middle ear, just behind the ear drum. Otitis media means inflammation of the middle ear. A puffer attached to the otoscope blows air to see if your thin eardrum moves. With fluid in the middle ear, the eardrum is more rigid and doesn’t move back and forth.

She might also look for signs of infection with another instrument. It’s called a tympanometer, and it uses sound and air pressure to check for fluid in the middle ear.

Often, a virus causes an ear infection, in which case antibiotics won’t help. If, based on the history, your doctor suspects that bacteria may have caused the infection, she may prescribe an antibiotic.

You may also talk to your doctor about things you can do at home.

If a virus or bacteria are causing the infection and you have to wait for it to get better, you don’t need to live with the pain.

Your doctor may recommend a pain reliever, typically acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), which also helps reduce a fever. Aspirin should be avoided in children because of the threat of Reye’s syndrome, a rare condition that can cause swelling in the brain or liver.

Pain can also be reduced by using low heat from a heating pad. Be very careful using a heating pad with children.

If your doctor decides to go with antibiotics, follow all the instructions. Take all of the doses even if you or your child are feeling better. Call your doctor or pharmacist if you skip a dose or feel sick from the medicine.

If you don’t take the whole course, your infection could come back and become resistant to more treatments.

If an infection causes serious complications, fluid remains in the ear for a long time, or your child has ear infections that keep coming back, your doctor might want to do a procedure called a myringotomy.

She creates a small hole in the eardrum so fluids such as water, blood, or pus can drain out. In many cases, she will put in a tube so it won’t get backed up again.

The tube, which will usually fall out on its own in about 6 to 18 months, lets the fluid out and air flow through to keep the middle ear dry. Tubes also:

• Reduce pain
• Improve hearing
• Cut down on the number of infections your child may have

When younger children get these ear tubes, it’s surgery. They will need to go to the hospital and take something to sleep during the procedure, which usually lasts about 15 minutes.

Older children and adults can have it done while they’re awake. For them, it can be done in their doctor’s office.

This surgery rarely leads to infection or scarring and usually prevents long-term symptoms. If the tubes come out and the infections return, talk to your doctor about more treatments.

Doctors generally don’t consider the removal of tonsils helpful for ear infections.

You can do things at home to ease your symptoms. Talk to your doctor first about these tips:

Warmth: You may find a heated compress brings comfort.

Feedings: If you feed your baby with a bottle, do it standing up. Don’t put your infant to bed with one. Try to take your child off it as soon as the doctor thinks he’s ready.

Gargling: In older children or adults, salt water helps soothe a raw throat and may help clear the Eustachian tubes.

Stand tall: Holding your head erect can help drain your middle ear.

Fresh air: Smokers should refrain from smoking inside the house or anywhere near your child.

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What not to do if your ear hurts

What not to do if your ear hurts – Polyclinic news

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October 15, 2020

Ear pain is considered one of the most unpleasant and excruciating pains. It can completely disrupt night sleep and significantly worsen the quality of life.

The main causes of ear pain are infections and injuries (improper cleaning of the ear canal, various bumps and injuries can lead to an inflammatory process).
⠀
If the lesion is in the outer section, then you will feel itching in the auricle, pain (most often acute). As for the middle ear, here diseases can “come” from the nasopharynx. Most often, we experience shooting pain in the ear, a sensation of throbbing, hearing loss, a strong and unusual perception of our own voice. With damage to the inner ear, pain is extremely rare. Symptoms such as incoordination, nausea, noise are characteristic.

Sometimes excruciating pain can occur due to diseases in neighboring organs (dental disease, trigeminal neuralgia, inflammation in the throat, nose or paranasal sinuses, diseases of the esophagus, cardiovascular pathologies, etc.). In this case, the pain simply “gives” to the ears.

Causes of ear pain can be caused by both infections and injuries

Do’s and Don’ts for ear pain:

⠀

• Warm up the ear. If the cause of the problem is not established (and it is very difficult to do it yourself), then you can seriously harm yourself. In the inflammatory process, the risk of spreading the lesion is high.
• Apply antibiotics. Antibacterial drops, at best, may be ineffective (with fungal otitis), at worst (in some pathologies they have a toxic effect on the nerve endings) – they can lead to deafness.

⠀
If there is no purulent discharge from the ear cavity, and the body temperature remains normal, you can take an anesthetic drug. Vasoconstrictor drops in the nose will also help. They reduce internal pressure on the membrane and thereby significantly reduce pain.

The best thing, of course, is not to get sick! So be sure to take care of your ears. Always wear a hat in the winter, carefully clean your ears from wax and do not start the disease.

If you do not want to face the unpleasant consequences of improper treatment, then start the fight against ear disease with a visit to Laura.

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Help for ear pain

Contents

• Causes of ear pain
• Otitis media as a common cause of ear pain
• First aid for ear pain
• First aid for ear pain 900 64

Acute pain in the ear always causes severe discomfort. Until you get to the otolaryngologist for an appointment, and the drugs prescribed by him begin to work, you will need reliable and safe ways to eliminate the painful symptom. What is the first aid for ear pain?

Contents

Causes of ear pain

Both the course of treatment prescribed by an otolaryngologist and first aid methods for ear pain will depend on what disease caused the painful symptom. The following pathological conditions can cause pain in the organ of hearing:

1. Pressure drops. If the auditory tube does not perform its function well, then during pressure drops (when diving and ascent, takeoff and landing, traveling by car or train), unpleasant sensations arise in the organ of hearing. The eardrum retracts inward, causing ear pain, pressure, and congestion.
2. Inflammatory processes of different locations. Otitis and inflammatory processes in all parts of the organ of hearing can lead to the occurrence of painful symptoms. So, boils, erysipelas and eczema may appear in the outer ear; on average – different forms of otitis, in the internal – labyrinthitis.
3. Acute pain in the ear can occur after injury to various parts of the hearing organ. Painful symptoms can manifest themselves due to improper hygiene of the auditory canal, the ingress of foreign bodies into it and the shocks suffered.
4. Inflammation of the parotid gland. The close location of this gland to the organ of hearing in the event of an abscess leads to the fact that patients begin to complain of severe pain in the ear.
5. Mastoiditis. One of the sections of the middle ear – the mastoid process of the temporal bone – can also undergo an inflammatory process that has become a complication of otitis media. During the course of the disease, patients complain of very intense ear pain.

Ear pain is not always associated with diseases and inflammatory processes in the organ of hearing.

Pathological conditions in other parts of the human body can provoke the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms:

pain in the ear may appear on the background of sinusitis, in which purulent masses press on the nerve receptors that transmit signals to the organ of hearing.

See also: By what signs can you understand that the baby has an earache?

Since a painful symptom can indicate various diseases related to different areas, only a specialist is able to establish the correct diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment for the underlying pathology. If the otolaryngologist does not find the “ear” cause of the appeared pain in your hearing organ, he will redirect you to other narrow specialists – a dentist, neurologist, surgeon or therapist.

Otitis as a common cause of pain in the ear

Otitis is the most common cause of pain in the ear. These inflammatory processes can be localized in different parts of the organ of hearing, and then the nature of the pain and its accompanying symptoms will also differ.

Otitis externa

Inflammation of the external part of the hearing organ develops mainly under the skin of the auricle or auditory canal. This otitis media usually leads to water entering the passage or when the integument is injured.

Ear pain in otitis externa is usually located closer to the exit of the auditory canal. As purulent masses accumulate under the skin, patients also note the appearance of itching, a feeling of pressure inside the hearing organ. If the tissues of the ear canal swell strongly and the lumen of the canal overlaps, there is also a feeling of stuffiness in the ear.

Otitis media

An acute inflammatory process affecting the tympanic cavity is always accompanied by excruciating sharp and shooting pain in the ear. Due to the fact that the mucous membrane of the middle ear is densely lined with nerve endings, the painful symptom becomes the very first signal that speaks of the development of the pathological process.

The disease, in addition to pain in the ear, is accompanied by increasing hearing loss, a feeling of congestion and pressure deep inside the organ.

Pain increases at rest, usually at night – this is due to an increase in exudate pressure on the mucous membrane of the tympanic cavity.

Pain in the ear with otitis in acute form, as a rule, instantly disappears after the rupture of the eardrum under the pressure of purulent masses. But relief of symptoms does not mean the end of the disease – if at this stage the need for antibiotic therapy is ignored, the pathology can develop into a chronic form.

See also: Hearing aid for the elderly: selection rules

First aid for ear pain

First aid for ear pain will be different depending on what pathological condition caused the occurrence of this unpleasant symptom.

Pressure Drop First Aid

Earache caused by pressure drop can be relieved with simple techniques to reposition the eardrum:

• Chew gum;
• swallow saliva several times;
• close the nostrils, close the lips tightly and exhale smoothly through the nose;
• Press the tragus against the entrance to the ear canal.

Toothache First Aid

If you are sure that your earache was caused by a toothache, then you should take painkillers to relieve symptoms and make an appointment with your dentist.

First aid for sinusitis

For ear pain caused by sinusitis, a series of relief measures can help you:

1. First of all, the nasal passages should be washed from accumulated mucous masses with saline solution.
2. To thin the mucus, ensure optimal humidity in the room, drink more fluids and take special preparations, such as sinupret.
3. To eliminate swelling, vasoconstrictor drugs should be instilled into the nasal passages.

First Aid for Otitis Pain

How you deal with ear pain from otitis media will depend on your symptoms. If you have a fever and discomfort increases in a horizontal position, it is better not to take risks and, after taking a painkiller, wait for the consultation of an otolaryngologist.

The fact is that if the nature of the disease is unclear, one cannot self-medicate and use traditional methods based on heating. Heat will temporarily eliminate the pain in the ear, but it can also accelerate the development of pathogenic flora in purulent otitis media and lead to serious complications.

Painkiller

Taking an analgesic will help you fall asleep and calmly wait for an appointment with an otolaryngologist. Paracetamol, Novigan or ibuprofen can help you with ear pain. The last drug, in addition to eliminating the painful symptom, is able to slightly restrain the development of the inflammatory process. To enhance the action of analgesics during the day, you can drink a little coffee or strong tea.

Ear drops

Ear drops should only be used if you are sure of the nature of your condition. So, patients suffering from chronic forms of otitis media, without waiting for the consultation of an otolaryngologist, usually begin topical use of analgesic drugs. Otipax and Otinum effectively relieve ear pain, while they do not have an antibacterial effect, which means that when you visit an otolaryngologist, he will be able to freely choose the optimal treatment program for the disease for you.

See also: Prevention of otitis in adults and children

Dry heat

Applying warm salt bags to the sore ear or using a blue lamp due to the action of heat will quickly relieve pain. But the use of such a method in some cases is fraught with negative consequences. So, if the pain in the ear is caused by purulent processes in the tissues of the organ of hearing, dry heat will only provoke the development of pathogenic flora and increased exudate release.

Therefore, before consulting an otolaryngologist, it is better not to apply dry heat in order to eliminate in the ear.

Camphor compress

This is another way to relieve ear pain based on the effect of heating. You can use it only in situations where you are sure that there is no purulent process in your organ of hearing.

1. To make a warming compress to relieve ear pain, prepare gauze, fold it into 4 layers and cut a hole in the middle for the ear.
2. According to the size of the bandage, you need to cut the same pattern from polyethylene.
3. Soak the created dressing in slightly warmed camphor oil and put it on the affected ear through the hole.
4. Polyethylene is applied on top of the bandage, the whole compress is fixed with a bandage and covered with a towel to keep warm.