Why does my ear hurt. Possible causes of ear pain include earwax buildup, air pressure changes, swimmer’s ear, middle ear infection, referred pain from other conditions, TMJ, and serious infections or tumors.

Earwax Buildup

Your ear naturally produces wax to protect and clean the ear canal. However, if the wax buildup becomes excessive or hardened, it can block the ear canal and cause pain. This is known as impacted earwax. Don’t attempt to remove the wax yourself using cotton swabs or other objects, as this can push the wax further into the ear and potentially damage the eardrum. Instead, you can try over-the-counter earwax softening drops or see your doctor, who can safely remove the buildup.

Air Pressure Changes

Sudden changes in air pressure, such as when flying or riding in an elevator, can cause a temporary imbalance in pressure between the inner and outer ear. This can lead to ear pain, a feeling of fullness or “popping” in the ear, and potentially temporary hearing loss. To help equalize the pressure, try chewing gum, yawning, or performing the Valsalva maneuver (pinching your nose and gently blowing).

Swimmer’s Ear

Also known as otitis externa, swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal. It’s often caused by water remaining in the ear after swimming, which can allow bacteria to grow. Symptoms include pain, redness, swelling, and discharge from the ear. To prevent swimmer’s ear, keep your ears dry after swimming and avoid using cotton swabs or other objects that can irritate the delicate skin of the ear canal.

Middle Ear Infection

A middle ear infection, or otitis media, is a common cause of ear pain. It occurs when fluid builds up behind the eardrum, often due to a cold, allergies, or sinus infection. Symptoms may include pain, fever, and muffled hearing. Treatment typically involves antibiotics, decongestants, or anti-inflammatory medications.

Referred Ear Pain

Ear pain can sometimes be a symptom of a problem in another part of the body, such as a toothache, sore throat, or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. This is known as referred pain, and it occurs because the nerves in the face and neck are interconnected with the ear.

TMJ Disorders

Issues with the temporomandibular joint, the “hinge” of the jaw that sits just below the ears, can also cause ear pain. Grinding or clenching the teeth, arthritis, or other problems with the TMJ can lead to pain that radiates to the ears, especially when chewing, talking, or yawning.

Serious Causes

In rare cases, ear pain can be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as a tumor, cellulitis (a severe skin infection), or shingles. If your ear pain is severe, doesn’t improve with home treatment, or is accompanied by a high fever, sore throat, or new rash, seek medical attention immediately to rule out these more serious causes.

If you’re experiencing persistent or severe ear pain, it’s important to see a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment. Trying to self-diagnose and treat ear pain can lead to further complications, so it’s best to consult a professional.

What are the most common causes of ear pain? The most common causes of ear pain include earwax buildup, changes in air pressure, swimmer’s ear, middle ear infections, and referred pain from other conditions like TMJ disorders or toothaches.

How can I treat ear pain at home? For mild ear pain, you can try over-the-counter earwax softening drops, use a warm compress on the affected ear, or take over-the-counter pain medication. However, if the pain persists or worsens, it’s important to see a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.

When should I see a doctor for ear pain? You should see a doctor if your ear pain is severe, doesn’t improve within a few days of home treatment, or is accompanied by symptoms like a high fever, severe sore throat, or a new rash. Persistent or severe ear pain may be a sign of a more serious underlying condition that requires medical attention.

Can ear pain be a symptom of a more serious condition? Yes, in some cases, ear pain can be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as a tumor, cellulitis, or shingles. If your ear pain is severe or accompanied by other worrying symptoms, it’s important to seek medical attention to rule out these more serious causes.

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.

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.

Why Does My Ear Hurt? Ear Pain Causes

Earaches are very common among children. However, adults can get them, too, and the discomfort is not always related to an underlying medical condition. For instance, you may experience ear pain if you wear a tight hat or poorly fitting earphones, grind your teeth, clench your jaw, or sleep on a hard surface.

Some other common causes of ear pain include:

Earwax Buildup

Earwax (cerumen) is an antibacterial substance that is continually produced by the body to protect and lubricate the ears. With chewing and other jaw movements, earwax normally moves out of each ear and flakes off the skin. As such, the ears are designed to be “self-cleaning.” Sometimes, however, earwax may build up, harden, and block the ear canal. Impacted earwax can cause ear pain and interfere with hearing.

A physician can safely remove impacted earwax from your ear. Don’t try to remove it yourself with a cotton swab or other object—this may push the wax deeper into your ear canal, making it more difficult to remove, and possibly damage your eardrum.

Airplane Ear

Ear barotrauma, or airplane ear, occurs when the air pressure in the middle ear does not match the air pressure in the outer environment. Unbalanced air pressure can prevent the eardrum from vibrating normally. Usually, the Eustachian tube, a narrow passageway to the middle ear, is able to regulate and equalize the air pressure on both sides of the eardrum. However, if the outside air pressure changes very rapidly— such as when an airplane is climbing after takeoff or descending for landing—the Eustachian tube may not be able to respond quickly enough to equalize the pressure. As a result, ear barotrauma symptoms may develop, such as ear pain, a feeling of stuffiness in the ear, and slight to moderate hearing loss.

To counter the effects of airplane ear, it can be helpful to yawn, swallow, or chew gum during a flight’s ascent and descent. If the symptoms are severe or last longer than a few days, it’s best to see a physician.

Swimmer’s Ear

An infection in the outer ear canal, swimmer’s ear is often caused by water that remains trapped in the ear after swimming or bathing, creating a moist environment that serves as an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. The symptoms of swimmer’s ear include ear pain, swelling, and itching. A physician may prescribe antibiotic ear drops to help resolve the infection.

A Middle Ear Infection

As a result of the common cold, allergies, or a sinus infection, mucus can build up behind the eardrum and trap a virus or bacteria. A middle ear infection can cause ear pain and inflammation. If left untreated, the infection may worsen, spread, and possibly lead to hearing loss. After diagnosing the underlying cause of the infection, a physician may prescribe antibiotic treatment (for a bacterial infection) or an antihistamine, nasal decongestant, or steroid.

Referred Ear Pain

Ear pain is sometimes referred from another part of the body. For instance, a toothache, tonsillitis, or cervical (neck) arthritis can potentially affect the ear because the nerves in the face and neck pass very close to the inner ear.

When to Seek Medical Treatment

In sum, there are many possible causes of ear pain, many of which are not serious. If your ear pain is severe, does not improve with a few days of home treatment, or is accompanied by a high fever, sore throat, or skin rash, you should see a physician right away.

If you’re a member of Optimum Direct Care in Orlando, FL, come and see our board-certified family practice physician, Dr. Toni “Muzzi” Muzzonigro. Dr. Muzzi will investigate the cause of your ear pain and help you feel better.

Adult Earaches Usually Stem from More Than an Ear Infection

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See a Premier Physician Network provider near you.

Though an earache might be something most people remember from childhood, adults are not immune from this kind of health issue. 

Ear pain in adults is less likely to be caused by an ear infection than ear pain in children, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

In adults, the NIH states that the pain is more likely caused by one of a variety of issues, including: 

Symptoms of an earache can include pain, fever, ear drainage, nausea, and vomiting, according to the NIH. 

When an adult has an earache, it’s important to treat the root cause of the problem, even if that problem isn’t directly related to the ear, such as arthritis of the jaw, according to the NIH. 

If you experience ear pain that doesn’t go away or gets worse within 24 to 48 hours you should call your doctor’s office, according to the NIH.  

Also call your doctor if you have severe pain that suddenly stops, according to the NIH. This could be a sign that your eardrum has ruptured.

The type of earache will determine the best treatment. The NIH recommends that:

• For a general earache – take over-the-counter pain relievers, rest in an upright position instead of lying down, and put a cold pack on the outer ear for 20 minutes
• For ear pain from pressure change – swallow hard or chew gum
• For earaches caused by other medical issues, including excess wax buildup, object in ear, sinus infection, sore throat, tooth infection, and more – visit your doctor to determine the best treatment on a case-by-case basis.

It’s easy to get the care you need.

See a Premier Physician Network provider near you.

Source: National Institutes of Health

My Ear Hurts

​Ear infections commonly occur after a viral infection causes fluid to accumulate in the middle ear, which is the space behind the eardrum that 

houses the small bones responsible for conducting sound. If this fluid becomes infected, increasing pressure on the eardrum can result in severe pain.

Symptoms of Ear Infections

Symptoms of an ear infection include pain, fever above 100.4 degrees

Fahrenheit, pulling at the ear, irritability, difficulty sleeping, temporarily decreased hearing, decreased activity, poor appetite, and occasionally vomiting or diarrhea. If you are concerned your child has an ear infection, he or she should be evaluated by a medical provider. Although the exam

is not painful, your healthcare provider may have difficulty clearly visualizing the eardrum – especially if your child is not feeling well and is uncooperative.

Treatment for Ear Infections

There are different treatment options for ear infections including antibiotics, 

pain medication, observation or a combination of all of these options.

Not all ear infections need to be treated with antibiotics and the decision to use antibiotics should be made with your healthcare provider. Children less than 2 years old with high fever or infection in both ears are normally treated with antibiotics. Children older than 2 years old with a mild fever and pain that is easily managed with Tylenol and Motrin can be observed during 24 – 48 hours to see if their symptoms improve without antibiotics. When choosing to observe a child with an ear infection, you

The Role of the Eustachian Tube and Adenoid

The eustachian tube runs from the middle ear, the space behind the eardrum, to the back of the throat behind the nose. The tube helps to regulate air pressure in the iddle ear and drain normally occurring 

fluid from the middle ear. The eustachian tube can become swollen and congested with upper respiratory infections causing excess fluid to accumulate in the middle ear. In young children, the angle of

the eustachian tube does not always allow fluid to drain adequately, and the

accumulated fluid can become infected with a virus or bacteria. 

The adenoid is a pad of tonsillar tissue in the back of the nose near the opening of the eustachian tube. Inflammation of the adenoid can contribute to swelling and congestion of the eustachian tube, making it difficult for fluid to drain from the middle ear. The resulting accumulation of fluid can become

infected.

Ear Tubes Can Help

Ear ventilation tubes, also called tympanostomy tubes, are small plastic 

or metal tubes surgically inserted into the eardrums allowing fluid to drain

from the middle ear into the ear canal. Ear tubes are sometimes recommended for children who have three to four ear infections in six months, children with chronic middle ear infections or noninfected fluid that does not drain over a three to four month period. Ear tubes will normally 

fall out within one to two years, and the hole left by the tube will normally heal shut. Children with ear tubestypically have fewer ear infections the

year following tube placement. If an ear infection occurs, it is often less painful. Children with ear tubes will typically experience a return of their hearing as the fluid drains. 

Ear tube placement is a relatively safe procedure with a low risk of serious complications. Risks include: the tube doesn’t fall out on its own; the hole that is made by the tube does not heal; persistent drainage; blocked tube from dried blood or mucus; scarring of the eardrum; the tube falling out too soon; and recurrent infections. 

Talk with your child’s healthcare providerfor more information on ear tubes. To find an ear, nose, and throat specialist near you, we invite you to visit the index at the back of this publication or IntermountainMedicalGroup.org.

Why Does My Ear Hurt?

Ear pain can be caused by a variety of factors, some of which require medical intervention, and others will resolve on their own. Determining the root cause of the pain can help you seek treatment when needed.

Change in Air Pressure

Your ear is responsible for regulating air pressure to keep the pressure equal on both sides of your eardrum. You can feel your ear doing this when you swallow and feel a little pop. But quick changes in air pressure, such as when you are in an airplane or on a fast-moving elevator can push one side off balance. This imbalance can cause your ear to hurt and may lead to trouble hearing.

Usually the pressure will equalize on its own.

Buildup of Earwax

Your ear naturally produces this yellow, waxy substance known as cerumen. It helps keeps your ear moist, fights off infections and protects debris and germs from entering the ear. The earwax cycle typically runs smoothly when left alone: earwax is created in the outer ear canal, makes its way through the ear and falls out of the ear all on its own. But if your ear produces too much earwax or something blocks the earwax from falling out of the ear, it can build up and harden. This blockage is known as impacted earwax.

Impacted earwax can lead to ear pain and temporary hearing loss. It is important to point out that you should never stick a cotton swab or other object in your ear in an attempt to get the wax out. All this will do is push the wax deeper into your ear canal and increase the likelihood of developing an infection.

You can try removing the impacted earwax at home with an over-the-counter kit or with the use of a warm water and a washcloth. If this does not work you will need to make an appointment with your ear doctor, who will remove the impacted earwax in an in-office procedure.

Development of an Ear Infection

When the tubes of your middle ear get blocked up by a cold, allergies or a sinus infection, fluid can build up and get infected. This is known as otitis media and can cause ear pain. If your infection is caused by bacteria your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic; if the infection is caused by a virus you have to wait it out. You may however use over-the-counter medication to ease the pain.

If left untreated, middle ear infections can lead to permanent hearing loss.

To learn more about why your ear hurts or to schedule an appointment with an ear doctor, contact the experts at Eastern Oklahoma ENT today.

Stabbing Pain in Ear? 3 Main Symptoms of Ear Infections in Adults

Ear infections don’t just affect children. Adults can get them as well.

Ear infections occur because a person’s Eustachian tubes become difficult or impossible to get through, meaning that fluid becomes trapped in part of the ear. These can range in intensity from minor to serious, although both may cause stabbing pain in ear canals.

Minor infections are the most common type, and will often disappear on their own. However, a chronic or recurring ear infection can cause damage to the ear and affect hearing.

How do you know if you have an ear infection, and whether or not it’s a serious one? We’ll talk more about that in the paragraphs below.

1. Stabbing Pain in Ear

We’ve already mentioned that pain is often a symptom of ear infections. However, the pain is not always sudden or intense. It can also be a mild but constant pain.

If the pain is immediately followed by liquid coming out of the ear, that’s another red flag.

Keep in mind that pain in the ear is not necessarily proof of an ear infection. It can be caused by other conditions, such as strep throat or sinus infections. Some causes are as simple as pressure changes resulting in plane rides, and even the use of cotton swabs.

Make sure you’re not overreacting before scheduling a doctor’s visit.

2. Fullness of Ear and Poor Hearing

Does your ear feel like it has a cotton ball shoved in it even though you know it doesn’t? That’s another symptom of an ear infection.

This is because of the Eustachian tube being clogged. In a healthy person, the function of the Eustachian tube is used to expel fluids from the ears by sending them to the throat, where they’re swallowed. This prevents infections by moving harmful bacteria out to other parts of the body before they can breed.

In an infected ear, this tube is swollen or blocked off, so harmful materials are trapped there to infect our ears. Our ears feel full because they are full.

They are also located quite close to the eardrum, and when they swell, they push up against the eardrum, limiting its ability to move. This makes it more difficult for the eardrum to pick up sound.

3. Dizziness, Nausea, and Vomiting

The Eustachian tube is also responsible for regulating our sense of balance. When we can’t balance properly, we often become dizzy. Dizziness can lead to nausea, and nausea can cause vomiting.

Those who have been on the teacup ride at the fair have first-hand experience with this particular domino effect.

Symptoms of Ear Infections

Stabbing pain in ear canals can be a symptom of an ear infection, but it’s not the only symptom. We’ve talked about some of the others in the paragraphs above, but there are a few others. We encourage you to do more research on your own.

If you want more information and advice on various health topics please visit our site. Ear infections aren’t the only kind out there. It’s important to know about upper respiratory infections as well.

Why ears can hurt when you swallow

With review and feedback from CEENTA ENT doctor Jonathan Moss, MD (Matthews)

You swallow and a pain flashes through your ear. You may know that ear pain can be associated with swallowing, but you might not know why. Today, we’ll tell you about some of the reasons ear pain might accompany swallowing.

Ear infections

The most common cause of the association between ear pain and swallowing is an ear, nose, or throat infection. A very common source is an ear infection. An ear infection occurs when one of your Eustachian tubes becomes swollen or blocked, causing fluid to build up in your middle ear. Viruses or bacteria get caught in the middle ear as a result.

Signs of an ear infection in adults include an earache, fullness in the ear, a stabbing pain in the ear, difficulty hearing, and possible ear drainage. In children, they can include ear pain, pulling at their ear, difficulty hearing, increased crying and irritability, fever, drainage, a loss of appetite, the inability to sleep, a headache, and balance issues.

Swimmer’s ear, which is an infection of the outer ear, can cause more intense pain in the ear canal that can be intensified when chewing, swallowing or pulling on the ear.

Nose and throat infections

The adenoids are immune system tissue located in the back of the nasal passages. They grow larger when they catch germs entering the nose and mouth. If they grow too large, they can block the Eustachian tubes. This adenoid inflammation can cause pain.

Someone with tonsillitis will experience pain when swallowing, and that pain can be referred to the ear. This is commonly experienced by patients after tonsil surgery. Similarly, a peritonsillar abscess can cause pain that extends to the ear and gets worse if someone swallows or opens their mouth.

Other causes

A dental abscess, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, problems with the glossopharyngeal nerve, and other rare conditions can also cause ear pain when you swallow.

Diagnoses at CEENTA

“There are a multitude of medical conditions that cause ear pain,” CEENTA ENT doctor Jonathan Moss, MD, said. “In children this is most likely ear infections, but not in adults. Adults are commonly misdiagnosed with ear infections due to the symptoms of ear pain, but that is rarely the origin. In adults it is most likely a non-infectious cause. Seeing an ear, nose, and throat specialist is key to getting the right diagnosis and treatment.”

If you are concerned about why your ear hurts when you swallow, schedule an appointment at CEENTA for the premier treatment you deserve.

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. Would you like an appointment with Dr. Moss? Call 704-295-3000. You can also schedule an appointment online or through myCEENTAchart.

90,000 Ear pain in a child – what to do? [Causes and treatment]

What you need to know about a child’s ear pain:

• Ear pain may mean that the child has ear inflammation – otitis media. The only way to be sure if this is so or not is to have an otolaryngologist examine the eardrum with an otoscope or ENT endoscope.
• Earache is not life threatening: it is safe to wait for the doctor to come to the house or the child is taken to the doctor.
• Ear pain can usually be reduced by taking a nonspecific anti-inflammatory drug.
• Most of the infections that cause ear pain in children are viral in nature and do not need antibiotic treatment.

Why can children have ear pain?

1. Ear infections. Infection of the middle ear (space behind the eardrum) is the most common cause. Ear infections can be caused by viruses or bacteria.
2. Swimmer’s ear. This is an infection or irritation of the skin covering the ear canal from water that has entered the ear.The main symptom is itching of the ear canal. If an infection joins the irritation, then there is pain in the ear.
3. Injury of the ear canal. Using hard objects or nails to clean the ears may result in scratches that can become inflamed and painful.
4. Abscess of the ear canal. Infection of the hair follicle in the ear canal can be very painful.
5. Sulfur plug . A large chunk of hard earwax can cause mild ear pain.If wax has been pressed in with cotton swabs while cleaning the ears, blockage of the ear canal may occur and inflammation with pain may occur, in which additionally there may be a decrease in hearing in this ear.
6. Foreign object. Babies can push small objects (foreign bodies) into their ears, which can cause pain. Most often these are small pebbles, beads, beads, seeds from berries, small Lego parts or plastic Kinder surprise toys, etc. Observe the instructions on the packaging of the toys.Do not allow a small child to play with small objects, especially without adult supervision.
7. Barotrauma. If the ear canal is blocked by a wax plug, a pressure drop (such as in an airplane, car ride in the mountains, or in a skyscraper elevator) can cause a painful stretching of the eardrum. Children are more sensitive. The child will perceive that baro-load that an adult will not even notice as pain.
8. Radiating (reflected) pain. Ear pain can also be caused by problems in the tonsils, parotid gland, or jaws. Toothache can often be disguised as ear pain, in babies – especially during teething. Also, ear pain can appear with inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, with mumps (mumps), or with very painful inflammation of the mandibular lymph nodes. A particular pain in the ear is with inflammation of the mastoid process of the temporal bone. Irradiating pain is easy to identify when pressing on the inflamed organ, it will intensify.

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What to do in case of pain in the ear in a child before the doctor’s appointment?

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Nurofen) may be given to your child to help reduce pain.
• You can apply a warm (not hot) soft cloth dressing to the auricle for 20 minutes. The gentle heat relieves pain until the pain medication starts working.
• IMPORTANT: it is impossible to put compresses or heating bandages on your own without a doctor’s prescription, you can INCREASE or generalize purulent inflammation!

Ear pain from ear infection

If pus is leaking from the ear (possibly mixed with blood), a small hole (perforation) is likely to appear in the eardrum. Discharge can also occur if the child has tubes in the eardrum. It is necessary to toilet the ear several times a day (and not plug the ears with cotton), so that the discharge comes out freely, does not clog the ear canal. This will prevent inflammation of the ear canal. Most often, the eardrum heals well after an ear infection has been treated with antibiotics, which should only be prescribed by a doctor.

If you suspect a child has ear pain, contact the ENT doctor immediately.Otitis media itself is not a complex disease and is easily treatable, but the complications that it can cause threaten a decrease or even loss of hearing in a child.

articles of the medical center Oxford Medical Dnipro

Why does the ear hurt?

The answer to this question is ambiguous. If the pain resembles a current discharge, the cause of the pain is neuralgia, if it occurs or intensifies with pressure, the cause of otitis media.

This year, as usual, winter is capricious, like a frivolous young lady: frost and snow are replacing thaw with incredible speed. With the onset of warming, I really want to put aside a warm scarf and a hat … This is where the risk of hypothermia lies in wait for all of us, provoking the development of infection and inflammation. The next morning after walking “light”, you are likely to feel pain in the ear.

Unfortunately, very few in this case immediately go to the doctor. More often we ourselves diagnose and prescribe treatment: rinsing, warming, pills on the advice of the Internet, relatives and friends …

However, the insidiousness of this symptom lies in the fact that it is characteristic of various diseases, which, in turn, require diametrically opposite treatment …So it turns out that the cause of pain in a person is one thing, but he heals something completely different. As a result, the disease is gaining momentum, complications develop that are not easy to cure even by an experienced doctor.

As a result, the disease progresses and leads to complications that are difficult even for a doctor to cure. Therefore, do not waste precious time. In order to immediately start the necessary treatment, it is important to consult a specialist and identify the cause of the pain: otitis media, neuralgia, inflammation of the dental nerve, or something else.

WHY DOES EAR PAIN COME UP?

1. Cause – inflammation in the ear (otitis media)

In which part of the ear the inflammation begins, the ENT doctor will determine.

What can confirm the guess? If you press the tragus with force (the protrusion of the auricle in front of the opening of the ear canal), pain will arise. Also possible: “lumbago” and tinnitus, fever, in severe cases – purulent discharge from the ear.

What to do? Immediately contact an ENT doctor

What can not be done? Do not prescribe antibiotics or other medications yourself.If you feel throbbing pain or pus flows out of your ear, do not warm up the sore ear under any circumstances!

Prevention. Otitis media is often a complication of acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, tonsillitis, flu or rhinitis. Therefore, any colds, not to mention infectious ones, must be completely cured and “matured”.

2. Cause – a cold nerve

Pain in the ear can be triggered by trigeminal neuralgia.

What can confirm the guess? The pains come on suddenly, the attacks last up to two minutes.The pain provokes chewing, touching, etc. The nature of the pain resembles an electric shock. Sometimes it is accompanied by redness, muscle spasm.

What to do? See a neurologist as soon as possible. In the event of trigeminal neuralgia, the help of a doctor is imperative. Only a neurologist can prescribe an effective course of treatment.

What not to do? During illness, exclude spicy foods, spices and stimulating drinks (hour, coffee, etc.) from the diet.), because their use can provoke an exacerbation.

Prevention. Avoid hypothermia to prevent neuralgia. To strengthen the nervous system, it is recommended to drink a course of B vitamins.

Sometimes trigeminal neuralgia is a consequence of trauma or a manifestation of other diseases (herpes, tumors, or, again, a sick tooth). In such cases, it is extremely difficult to prevent it.

3. The reason – caries in the tooth

Ear pain can be triggered by advanced stage caries – in the presence of inflammatory processes of the nerve or tissues.

What can confirm the guess? The pain is pulsating, aggravated by taking hot or cold food, as well as by pressing on a sore tooth. The pain radiates to the ear, head, neck, temple. Usually, this pain is more pronounced at night than during the day.

What to do? It is impossible to get rid of caries on your own. Do not delay, immediately consult a dentist who will accurately determine the cause of the pain and treat it. Until the time of the visit to the dentist, pain pills can help relieve pain.For a while, rinsing with a solution of warm water with soda and iodine will help relieve pain. However, all these activities cannot cancel the dentist’s consultation.

What not to do? Never use a warming compress, especially if flux (edema) has already formed. Do not rub the sore spot, do not pick the tooth with hard objects, do not touch the sore gum with your hands. This can provoke the spread of the infection.

Prevention. A tooth with caries, even if it does not bother, is always a source of infection in the body.A bad tooth can cause problems with the heart, digestive tract, liver and kidneys. Therefore, if a problem exists, do not delay your visit to the dentist.

EAR PAIN IN BREASTS. HOW TO BE?

Even the smallest are not insured against ear pain. A two-year-old child may say that his ear hurts. However, the baby is not able to talk about the pain, but simply cries, refuses food, does not sleep, rubs his ear, reaches for him with his hand. Identify the cause by possibly pushing the tragus.If your child cries, it is most likely otitis media. In order to prevent complications, immediately show the child to the ENT doctor.

Prevention. Otitis media is more common in children than in adults. The likelihood of complications is also higher. This is due to the peculiarity of the structure of the child’s ear, namely, a shorter and wider auditory tube. It is very important not to allow mucus to enter the auditory tube during colds or milk when feeding. To do this:

• Teach the baby to cleanse the nose correctly (blowing his nose): do it without effort, do not blow mucus out of two nostrils at once, only in turn,
• keep the baby in an upright position after feeding, so that he can vomit, and milk did not enter the nasopharynx, and then into the middle ear through the auditory tube.

Otitis media, or when the ear hurts

Select a specialist:

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• Yulia Vostrikova
  Pediatric dentist-therapist

• Ponomareva Maria Lvovna
  Orthodontist for children, adolescents

• Glazyrina Yulia Leonidovna
  Dentist therapist, pediatric

• Pautova Larisa Evgenievna
  Dentist therapist, children

• Shirikhanova Natalia Valentinovna
  Dentist therapist, children

• Shevtsova Yulia Vadimovna
  Dentist therapist, children

• Grebenkina Victoria Alekseevna
  Dentist therapist, children

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  Children’s dentist

• Sosnina Natalia Eduardovna
  Children’s dentist

• Kharlamova Anna Yurievna
  Children’s dentist

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  Dentist-therapist for children, adolescents

• Strelkova Daria Mikhailovna
  Dentist-therapist for children, adolescents

• Rusinova Anastasia Sergeevna
  Children’s dentist

• Ponomareva Maria Lvovna
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• Davydov Kirill Andreevich
  Dentist-orthodontist

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  Pediatric endocrinologist

90,000 What to do if your ear hurts… – Ulyanovsk today

During the period of temperature fluctuations, diseases of ENT organs are extremely common. Inflammation of the lining of the nose and throat, which is so common with respiratory viral infections, can cause otitis externa.

About how otitis externa manifests itself, what are its causes and what recommendations should be followed in the treatment of this insidious disease, the chief freelance otolaryngologist of the Ministry of Health of the Ulyanovsk region, head of the otolaryngology department of the Ulyanovsk regional clinical hospital Valery Lisin will tell.

– What is otitis externa?

– This is the general name for a group of diseases characterized by inflammatory changes in the structures of the auricle, the external auditory canal. The disease is quite common, in most cases it is acute, but it can turn into a chronic form.

– What can cause it?

– There are many reasons for otitis externa. It develops as a result of water entering the ear and hypothermia, as a complication of acute respiratory viral infections, influenza, measles and other infectious diseases, as well as ear injury or infection with a fungus.

– What are the symptoms of otitis externa?

– The main symptom is pain. It can be sharp, aching, throbbing. It can fade out and appear again. Alertness should be caused by discharge from the ear, especially with an admixture of pus and blood. Another symptom is all sorts of hearing impairment. With otitis externa, unpleasant sensations, itching, swelling, noises similar to splashing water may appear in the ear. If you do not hear the whisper of a person who is at a distance of 5-6 meters from you, the cause may be otitis externa.

– How to deal with these symptoms?

– Get immediate medical attention. Untimely treatment can lead to the appearance of pus, scars. With furuncles of the external auditory canal, surgical intervention may be required. The occurrence of purulent processes in the ear requires the use of antibiotics, both systemic and local action.

– Is the diagnosis based on examination?

– Visual examination in most cases is not enough to make a diagnosis.The doctor can prescribe laboratory and microbiological studies, as well as radiation and magnetic resonance examination methods. In no case should the doctor’s prescriptions be neglected. For successful treatment, it is necessary to identify the cause of otitis externa.

– What are the preventive measures for otitis media?

– First of all, this is the timely treatment of infectious diseases of the nasopharynx. It is necessary to timely treat not only inflammatory processes of the nose and throat, but also diseases of the oral cavity, regularly undergo preventive examinations.Before swimming in ponds or pools, wear a rubber cap and try to keep water out of your ear. Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. During the course of antibiotic therapy, alcohol is categorically contraindicated. To avoid injury to the eardrum and outer ear, avoid using ear buds and ear candles. It is enough to rinse the auricle with clean water, and after washing, gently pat it dry with a towel. If the eardrum is damaged, it is impossible to wash the ear – if water gets in, an inflammatory process can develop.Ear drops for ruptured membranes are also contraindicated.

Information prepared with the assistance of the State Healthcare Institution “Center for Medical Prevention and the Promotion of a Healthy Lifestyle” and the Department of Family Affairs of the Administration of Ulyanovsk

90,000 why a child’s ear hurts – Rambler / sports

Ear infections in children are by no means uncommon. Despite the unpleasant pain symptoms, with proper and timely treatment, it is not difficult to cope with the disease. Letidor contacted ENT Vladimir Zaitsev (ENT clinic of Dr. Zaitsev) to find out what ear diseases are most common in children, what symptoms parents need to pay attention to, and why it is absolutely impossible to treat ear infections without a doctor’s supervision.How the child’s ear works Let us turn to the anatomy of the hearing organ. It has a middle section (middle) ear, an outer section (outer ear), and an inner ear (labyrinth). Accordingly, each of the departments can be inflamed. In children, as a rule, there are infections of the middle and outer ear.

Practice shows that by the age of 3, almost 80% of all babies have time to recover from infections of the middle section.

More often such diseases occur after colds and diseases of the upper respiratory tract.This is also due to anatomical features: the nasal cavity is connected to the middle ear by the Eustachian tube. It is also called auditory. Through this tube, viruses and bacteria enter the ear. In babies, the Eustachian tube is wider and shorter, which allows bacteria to migrate smoothly from the nose to the ear. It happens that the Eustachian tube is blocked, for example, due to the overgrowth of the adenoids. Bacteria accumulate in the middle ear and begin to proliferate, leading to the formation of pus. When there is too much pus, it begins to press hard on the eardrum.Eventually it ruptures and pus flows out. As you grow older, the auditory tube changes its shape and becomes longer, which significantly reduces the risk of infection spreading to the ear. And already school-age children are less likely to have ear infections.

Symptoms of otitis media In children with otitis media, the following symptoms are observed:

Severe shooting pain in the ear;

suppuration from the ear canal;

Hearing impairment in a diseased ear;

increase in body temperature.

Very young children become capricious, constantly rubbing their ears. When they touch a sore ear, they begin to cry. It can get to the point that babies even have diarrhea.

Such symptoms serve as an alarm signal and cause an immediate referral to an ENT doctor.

Timely treatment and competent treatment will avoid serious consequences (for example, otogenic meningitis).

How inflammation is treated In the case of middle ear infections, the child is given a course of antibiotics.Recommendations for the choice of an antibacterial drug and the duration of the course of treatment remain with the doctor.

It is necessary to drink the antibiotic for exactly as many days as the ENT doctor prescribes, even if after a couple of days the child has become much better!

Diseases of the external ear, or “swimmer’s ear” Diseases of the external ear are more common in children who swim, dive into water or often bathe in rivers and ponds. It is no coincidence that external ear infections are called “swimmer’s ear.”Water, getting into the external auditory canal, stagnates in it and turns into a favorable environment for the reproduction of bacteria. Earwax can also contribute to water retention in the ear and lead to acute inflammation. Symptoms of external ear disease During the period of external ear disease, the child experiences the following symptoms:

feeling of ear congestion;

hearing impairment;

discharge from the ear;

redness and swelling of the auricle;

An increase in body temperature is sometimes observed.

Treatment of diseases of the external ear Only an ENT doctor can prescribe competent treatment. The course of therapy includes taking antibacterial drugs. Pain can be relieved with pain relievers.

It is categorically impossible for a child to be independent and bury ear drops!

Some ear drops contain alcohol, which can cause a ruptured eardrum. Only an ENT doctor, after examining the ear and making a diagnosis, can prescribe certain drops.It is impossible during the period of inflammation to clean the ears with cotton swabs, and even more so to pick in the ear with matches and pins, so you can only intensify the inflammatory process. After the course of therapy, you should re-visit the otorhinolaryngologist to ensure complete recovery. Photo: Shutterstock.com Let’s be friends on social networks! Subscribe to us on Facebook, VKontakte and Odnoklassniki!

Otitis does not forgive amateur performance

Almost every third patient turns to the ENT doctor with this ailment, and 8 out of 10 babies suffer from it in early childhood.We are talking about acute inflammation of the middle ear – a tiny cavity designed to transmit and amplify sound waves through the eardrum and ossicles. Despite the fact that tens of thousands of people of different ages fall ill with otitis media every year, it cannot be called a harmless disease. On the contrary, it is quite insidious and is the most common cause of partial or complete hearing loss. How to avoid serious consequences?

In most cases, otitis media is a consequence of infectious processes in the upper respiratory tract: tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, as well as acute viral diseases (influenza, measles, scarlet fever, etc.)etc.). This is explained by the fact that the hearing organs are closely connected with the nasopharynx through the Eustachian tube, which creates anatomical and physiological prerequisites (especially in children) for the spread and development of microbial infection. Therefore, you should not be surprised when otitis media occurs after a banal rhinitis, and the doctor first of all prescribes drops for the child not in the ears, but in the nose.

Unfavorable factors that also contribute to the formation of an inflammatory focus in the ears are a decrease in immunity, the presence of concomitant diseases, an unbalanced diet, vitamin deficiency, hypothermia, and allergic reactions.In addition, the risk increases tenfold if at least one of the family members smokes. And, finally, a very prosaic reason for otitis media may be non-observance of the elementary rules for cleansing the nasal passages of mucus. For example, if a child blows his nose through both nostrils at the same time, the pressure in the nose increases – and the infection through the auditory tube “accelerates” into the ear. At the same time, it is known that children who received breastfeeding, other things being equal, have a much lower risk of developing otitis media.

The clinical manifestations of the disease are very typical: pain in the ear region, which occurs suddenly, increases at night and can be pulsating in nature, shooting (in the back of the head, teeth, temple), pulling. May still be worried about the decline

hearing, noise in the sore ear, sometimes dizziness. When you press on the tragus of the auricle or behind the ear region, a sharp pain occurs. Quite often, acute otitis media is disguised as general signs of inflammation in the body: the temperature rises to 40 degrees, malaise appears, a feeling of weakness, rapid fatigue.Discharge from the ear canal is another sign. They can be serous or purulent, have an admixture of blood, and indicate a perforation of the tympanic membrane.

Further progression of the pathological process can lead to the development of dangerous complications – paresis of the facial nerve, mastoiditis, meningitis and sepsis. Therefore, it is impossible to hesitate with the treatment of otitis media! However, it is not worthwhile to independently establish a diagnosis, and even more so to self-medicate. Only a specialist can prescribe competent therapy that will stop the disease at the initial stage and avoid purulent inflammation.

Vasoconstrictor drops help to eliminate swelling of the nasal mucosa and auditory tubes. In this case, they should be buried in the supine position, with the head thrown back a little towards the sore ear. Antipyretic and analgesics can be used to relieve fever (above 38.5 degrees), relieve severe pain syndrome. Of course, the decision to prescribe antibacterial drugs and other more serious methods of treatment is in the competence of the doctor. Remember: any thermal treatments (hot compresses, heating pads, etc.)are contraindicated in case of purulent discharge from the ears and high fever.

Vladimir KHRYSCHANOVICH, MD
Soviet Belarus , September 20, 2018

Otitis media, ear inflammation: symptoms, causes, treatment, complications, ear pain | Purulent, catarrhal, chronic, acute, otitis externa

Ear pain due to inflammation can occur at any age. Strong pain in the ear and general malaise are the main symptoms of otitis media.Treatment of otitis media involves eliminating the causes of inflammation, reducing pain, selecting an antibacterial drug.

What is otitis media?

Inflammation of the middle ear, or otitis media, is more common in children. However, adults are also at risk of getting sick. The disease is caused by bacteria, in some cases it can be a complication of a viral infection.

Symptoms of otitis media in children:

• pain in the ear, worse lying down,
• shooting character sensations,
• headache, general malaise,
• hearing loss,
• imbalance,
• increase in body temperature,
• ear discharge,
• vomiting.

Symptoms of otitis media in adults:

• ear pain,
• hearing loss,
• appearance of fluid secreted from the ear,
• increase in body temperature.

When should I see a doctor?

If a child or adult has severe ear pain or soreness persists for more than a day, fluid or pus comes out from the ear, seek professional help immediately.

Causes of otitis media

Bacteria or viruses are among the causes of otitis media. Swelling of the organs of the nasopharynx during ARVI provokes the onset of inflammation of the middle ear. In children, this happens more often due to the peculiarities of the structure of the body.

What is the risk of complication of otitis media?

Ignoring the symptoms of ear inflammation can lead to the development of chronic suppurative otitis media. The consequences of untimely treatment of otitis media can be:

• hearing loss, which may be irreversible,
• developmental delay in children,
• spread of infection and formation of purulent cysts,
• rupture of the tympanic membrane.

How to prevent otitis media?

It is important to reduce the risk of ARVI, observe the rules of personal hygiene, and dress for the season.

Diagnostics and treatment

When contacting an ENT doctor with acute pain in the ear area, the patient undergoes a comprehensive examination.