Ear pain : What you need to know?

Overview

What is Ear pain?

Ear pain (earache) is the dull, sharp, or burning sensation in one or both ears. It can occur for a short duration or continuously. Ear pain can arise all of a sudden or gradually. The ear pain can originate from the inside or the outside of our ear and treatment of the ear pain depends on the cause of the pain.¹Overview| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Infants, toddlers (2-3 years), and young children below 14 years are more prone to ear pain than people of other age groups ³Overview| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Facts of ear pain

• Ear pain is medically known as otalgia.
• Ear pain is more widespread in children, but it can happen in people of all age groups.
• Ear pain due to ear infections is common in children
• Ear ache is not life-threatening
• Rarely ear pain can be a sign of severe illness ²Overview| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Symptoms

Symptoms that can accompany Ear pain

Symptoms from injury or ear infection

• Decreased hearing
• Fluid from the ear
• Ear feels full
• Difficulty in chewing
• Jaw pain
• Clicking of the ears
• Fever
• Headache
• Hearing loss

Symptoms in children

• Difficulty responding to sound
• Difficulty in opening the mouth
• Rapid involuntary eye-movement
• Crying or getting irritated more than usual
• Difficulty sleeping
• Pulling off the ear
• Ear fullness
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of balance
• Fever
• Headache ³Symptoms| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Causes

Causes of Ear pain

The cause of ear pain might be due to the following reasons:

• An ear infection of the outer, middle, and inner ear
• A blocked eustachian tube that creates pressure behind the eardrum
• Pain in other places, such as teeth, jaw, and throat
• Any physical injury that is done by scratching the inner part of the ears with a cotton swab, finger, or other objects⁴Causes| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Other common causes of ear pain are as follows:

• Pressure change while flying in an airplane
• Entering of foreign body in the ear
• Build up of earwax
• Water or shampoo entering the ear
• Harsh cleaning of the ear with a cotton swab
• Acute ear infection
• Persistent ear infection
• Sinus infection
• Sore throat
• Tooth infection ⁴Causes| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Unusual causes of ear pain

• Ruptured eardrum
• Arthritis(joint inflammation) affecting the jaw
• Eczema(skin disease) in the ear canal
• Chronic facial nerve pain (trigeminal neuralgia)
• Temporomandibular joint syndrome (a condition affecting jaw movement) ⁴Causes| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Ear pain

Physical examination

• The doctor (ENT specialist) will first carry out a routine examination of the outer ear, the middle ear (ear canal), and the tympanic membrane (eardrum) with an instrument (otoscope).
• Following, he will examine the nose, mouth, and sinuses and might also look at the back molars to see signs of recurrent teeth clenching.

Then the doctor might perform the following tests:

Nasal endoscopy

• Nasal endoscopy is a procedure to see the inside of the nose and the sinuses. It is done with an endoscope.⁵Diagnosis| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Vestibular function test

• The vestibular function test is a series of tests to identify whether the ears are functioning correctly.
• It evaluates the balance system in the inner ear

CT (Computed tomography) scan

• A CT scan might be recommended if the doctor suspects an infection of the large bone (mastoid bone) behind the ear.⁵Diagnosis| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov
• It uses X-rays and computers to get a detailed picture of the inside of our body.

MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging)

• MRI might be recommended if the doctor suspects a tumor for the ear pain
• It uses a magnetic field and computer to get images of the internal structures of our body.

Blood tests

The doctor might recommend blood tests if he suspects a severe infection.

ESR (Erythrocyte sedimentation rate)

• It is a test to check the inflammation in the body

White blood cell count

• It is a test to check the infection level in the body. A high WBC count indicates infection in the body

C-reactive protein

• It is a test to check the inflammation in the body. Increased level of C-reactive protein indicates inflammation in the body ⁵Diagnosis| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Treatment

Treatment of Ear pain

Treatment of ear infection includes both medicines and surgery , selection of treatment depend on root cause and severity of pain.it may include following:

Over-the-counter medication

NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

• Ibuprofen
• Diclofenac
• Tylenol (pain reliever)

Oral antibiotics (treats bacterial infection)

• Azithromycin
• Cephalexin

Eardrops

Antibiotic eardrops-It contains the following active ingredients-

• Ciprofloxacin
• Ofloxacin
• Tobramycin
• Gentamicin

Antifungal eardrops-It contains the following active ingredients-

• Miconazole
• Clotrimazole

For pain from wax build up

Wax-softening eardrops-It contains the following ingredients-

• Carbamide peroxide
• Glycerin
• Sodium bicarbonate

Surgery

• Doctors might indicate a surgical operation for ear pains due to tumors, such as severe mastoiditis. Mastoiditis is the infection of the mastoid bone behind the ear.
• It might also be indicated to treat persistent middle ear infections and eustachian tube malfunctioning ⁶Treatment| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Home remedies

Home Remedies for Ear pain

• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers
• Taking over-the-counter ear drop
• Applying a cold compress and warm compress in the ear alternatively to relieve the pain
• Keeping the ear dry and preventing it from getting wet
• Sitting upright to relieve ear pressure that is causing pain
• Sleeping upright while in bed eases the pressure
• Feeding the infant to relieve their ear pressure
• Distracting the child by playing a favorite movie or making them focus on other things that they enjoy
• Doing neck exercises several times a day might relieve ear pain caused due to tense muscles around the ear canal.
• Chewing gum might relieve the pressure in case of ear pain caused due to traveling to high altitudes.
• Applying ginger juice around the outer ear canal might relieve ear pain. However, one must not put the juice into the ear canal.
• Eating raw garlic might reduce ear pain. However, people taking antibiotics must consult a physician before taking raw garlic as it might interact with the drug ⁷Home remedies| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Prevention

Prevention of Ear pain

• Protect the ear from small objects or insects
• One must adequately dry the ears after bathing or swimming
• Keep away from dust and pollen
• Avoid the persistent use of cotton swabs or earwax-softening agents.
• Wear earplugs for swimming
• Avoid putting the finger or towel into the ear after swimming
• One must clean the ears softly and with care
• One must avoid digging into the ear canal
• Keep away from the smoking environment
• One with frequent ear wax buildup must visit a doctor every six to twelve months to clear it up ⁸Prevention| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Consultation

When to seek emergency medical attention?

One must immediately seek medical attention under the following conditions:

• A child with a persistent fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or above .
• Severe pain that stops suddenly (can be due to eardrum rupture)
• Severe ear pain that does not improve within 24 to 48 hours
• Ear pain with fever and sore throat
• Pain when touching or pulling the ear lobe
• Buzzing sound in the ears
• Hearing loss
• Swelling or rash in the ear canal
• Extreme tiredness
• Severe headache
• Drooping (hanging) of the facial muscles
• Swelling around the ear
• Pus or blood drainage from the ears ⁹Consultation| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Takeaway

Key Takeaways

• Ear pain is an uncomfortable ear sensation due to infection or other reasons.
• Some ear pain resolves on its own after improving the health condition
• Ear pain that lasts for more than two days with fever, chill must contact a health professional to get the correct treatment and prevent unwanted complications