Earache – causes, treatment and prevention

Earache

Earache is any type of pain that can occur in the outer ear as well as in the middle and inner ear Even pain in the auricle is an earache in the broadest sense. Inflammatory ear diseases (middle ear infection, auditory canal infection), but also problems in the tooth and jaw region are usually the triggers for earache.

What is earache?

The ears are criss-crossed by numerous nerve connections, which often react to stimuli with strong pain sensations.

The extent and course of earache is diverse. These can appear completely unexpectedly as a stabbing or dull pain. Only one ear or both ears can be affected. The symptoms can occur at rest, when touched or when chewing.

Ear pain is often accompanied by various side effects such as dizziness , a foreign body sensation in the ear or reduced hearing. Noises in the ear are also not uncommon.

On the other hand, it is rather rare for blood or other liquid to leak out of the ear – a doctor should definitely be consulted at this point at the latest.

Earaches are often accompanied by a reduction in hearing, disturbances in the sense of balance and ringing in the ears ( tinnitus ). Earaches are particularly common in children. The symptoms are more pronounced at night.

causes

The causes of earache are extremely varied. If the outer ear hurts, the auditory canal may be swollen. This swelling then presses on the ear canal bone and causes the uncomfortable earache.In addition, inflammatory fluid or pus that is no longer draining away in the middle ear can cause earache due to the increasing pressure.

Inflammation of the middle ear or the auditory canal is one of the most common causes of earache – it often occurs with a cold.

Excessive ear hygiene, i.e. excessive cleaning with a cotton swab, can also cause ear pain. On the other hand, a blocked auditory canal caused by foreign bodies (e.g. earwax) can also lead to such symptoms.

Diseases of the teeth and jaw joint (e.g. teeth grinding) can also be transmitted to the ears and cause earache. Rarely, earache can be explained by disturbed nerve functions.

Divers, swimmers or water sports enthusiasts in general will know another cause of earaches: the penetrating water (water in the ear) quite often causes earaches. In addition, changes in air pressure (flight, diving), external violence (a blow to the ear region) or an injury to the eardrum can cause corresponding pain.

Diseases

When to the doctor?

If you suffer from severe ear pain, you do not need to see a doctor immediately. As a rule, when there is pain in the ear, there is an inflammation that is located in the inner ear. Before seeing a doctor, the sufferer can take natural measures to heal and improve. These include anti-inflammatory agents, which should not be taken for more than three days. If there is no improvement after these three days, a doctor should definitely be consulted.

If a purulent fluid leaks from the inner ear , you should also seek medical treatment. In such a case, there is a drastic inflammation that must be treated with prescription drugs. If such an inflammation remains untreated, there is a risk of serious consequential damage. Blood poisoning can also be caused by such a middle ear infection. Inflammation is usually treated with antibiotics. This will reduce the inflammation and stop the production of pus.

If the earache is caused by external violence, a medical examination should also be resorted to. Only then can internal injuries be ruled out. In general, anyone who has had severe pain in their ears for more than three days should have this clinical picture examined by a doctor. This is the only way to avoid serious inflammation and consequential damage.

diagnosis and course

Basically, pain in or on the ear indicates an ear disease. A common reason for pain is an ear canal infection or a middle ear infection. The causes of earache can also lie in the jaw and tooth area or in the nose and throat area.

An accurate diagnosis of earache can only be made by a specialist. The first way to deal with ear pain should therefore lead the patient to an ENT doctor. First, the specialist will ask the patient how long the ear pain has been occurring and how intense it is. Perhaps these are not continuous but only intermittent. This can give the doctor important information about the cause of the earache. In addition to the anamnesis, the specialist will examine the external auditory canal, the auricle and the eardrum. This can be done, for example, by an ear examination (otoscopy).

With the help of a tube function test, the doctor can define the patency of the auditory tube more precisely. Various hearing tests can also be used to determine whether the earache is associated with hearing loss. An X-ray examination can also be ordered by the specialist to find out the cause of the earache.

If all of these tests are inconclusive, the doctor will look for other possible underlying conditions for the earache. It is possible, for example, that diseases of the dental apparatus are behind the earache.

complications

Ear pain does not necessarily lead to medical complications. In most cases, they are related to a cold, a strong draft or too much strain on the ears. A doctor only needs to be consulted in a few cases. The ear can also become inflamed when there is an earache. The first signs of inflammation are very severe pain that lasts for an unusually long time. Since the ear is a very easily injured apparatus, the affected person should definitely consult a doctor in this case. A middle ear infection can occur here, for example. Although this is not particularly dangerous to health and can be cured well, it is an unpleasant burden for the person affected.

Common earaches do not require a doctor’s visit. These often pass after a few days or even when the cold has healed. In addition to the earache, people often feel uncomfortable pressure on one of the two ears. This pressure also disappears over time. Earaches often lead to stress and insomnia , as these pains often also lead to headaches. For temporary pain, painkillers can relieve the symptoms. These should never be taken long-term. If the pain in the ears persists, a doctor must be consulted.

treatment and therapy

Treatment for earache depends on the cause diagnosed.

If an infection is the cause of the earache, it is usually treated with antibiotics . In case of inflammation of the auricle, anti-inflammatory ointments can be applied externally.

A middle ear infection and ear canal infection is usually treated with pain and inflammation-relieving ear drops. In addition, antibiotic medication is administered.

Foreign bodies in the ear as the cause of the earache can usually be removed quite easily by the doctor.

↳ More information: Home remedies for earache

Injuries to the eardrum (e.g. eardrum rupture) usually heal by themselves. In severe cases of eardrum perforation (hole in the eardrum), surgical intervention is unavoidable.

Ear pain originating from the tooth and jaw area (e.g. teeth grinding ) may require treatment by a dentist or orthodontist. Dental applications (e.g. bite splint) or prescribed medication can provide relief for those affected.

outlook and prognosis

Earaches are a common condition, most often caused by a bacterial infection. Predicting a precise course of the disease is very difficult, since the possible complications can be very diverse. If an earache goes untreated, the existing inflammation will worsen significantly within a short period of time. Under certain circumstances, pus can even form, so this is the first sign of a significant deterioration.

If this symptom also remains without medical and drug treatment, then even the development of an abscess is possible. This is a cavity filled with pus. An abscess can even cause blood poisoning if the pathogens it contains get into the bloodstream.

However, if the affected person seeks medical treatment early enough, a much more pleasant course of the disease can of course be expected. The existing inflammation can be alleviated effectively and quickly with appropriate medication. The formation of pus fluid is thus nipped in the bud, so that the earache should disappear within a few days. Therefore, earaches should always be treated medically and with medication. Only in this way can a quick and uncomplicated healing take place.

prevention

Earaches can be prevented by avoiding loud sources of noise as much as possible. These can cause tinnitus , which can also lead to earache.There are also a number of things to consider when it comes to ear hygiene. You should be particularly careful with cotton swabs and never insert them too far into your ears. For small children, there are particularly gentle ear sticks on the market that prevent you from getting too deep into the ear canal.

There are also a few things to keep in mind when swimming. The ears should always be dried thoroughly. Especially in winter when swimming in the indoor pool, this is immensely important if you then go out into the cold air.

Cold wind and drafts can also trigger earaches, so you should always avoid them. Parents in particular should heed these tips, because children between the ages of three and eight suffer from earache particularly often.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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