EARACHE

The pain of an earache may be sharp, dull, or throbbing. Muffled hearing and a feeling of pressure or blockage may also be present.

Earaches can be caused by:

infection or disease in the ear itself
infection or disease in the nose, mouth, or throat
infection or injury to jaw bones
changes in altitude or air pressure
a build-up of ear wax and
an object, growth, or insect in the ear

Earaches are very common in young children. The child may rub or tug on the painful ear. Fever, dizziness, and loss of appetite may also occur with earaches. A frequent cause of earache in children is middle ear infection or otitis media. The infection often begins as a cold, sinus infection, or throat infection. The tubes that connect the ear to the nasal passages are more narrow and shorter in children. With an upper respiratory infection, these tubes become swollen. The swelling can block these small tubes causing fluid build-up in the middle ear. The fluid becomes a breeding ground for bacteria or viruses.

Adults also get ear infections but not as often as children under 8 years. Middle ear infection in adults may cause earaches, hearing loss, and a feeling of blockage in the ear. Symptoms might also include colored nasal discharge, fever, dizziness, and loss of appetite. Adult middle ear infection is treated similarly to children's middle ear infection.

Other painful ear conditions include:

Serous otitis media: Mucus or fluid builds up behind the eardrum and stays trapped there for weeks or months, after the painful part of the infection is over.
Otitis externa: Swelling of the outer ear and the ear canal. It is more common in adults, people with diabetes, people who pick at their ears or insert objects such as pens or pencils into them, and people who swim. Swimmer's ear is a common type of otitis externa.
Barotrauma: A full-ear feeling of unequal pressure caused by flying in an airplane, by a change in altitude, or by congestion in the nose.

The ear canal is very delicate. It is never a good idea to put anything in your ear that has not been prescribed. A healthcare provider may prescribe one or more medications to treat the cause of the earache. Some cases may require a medical procedure or surgery.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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