Pain in the ear can be due to problems such as problem inside the ear, such as outer ear infection or middle ear infection. Ear pain can also be due to the external problem, or any infection near the year. These outer infections can be sinusitis, TMJ disorder, or dental infection. How does pain feel? Usually, it can be sharp, dull, aching, and can also depend on the location, intensity and other symptoms like fever, and dizziness.
Sometimes, a doctor can achieve its diagnosis without any test. While in severe cases, they may recommend you some test to know the root causes.
Causes of Ear Pain
As you know, there are multiple causes of ear agony; it’s easiest to consider primary diagnosis as compared to secondary diagnosis.
In primary diagnosis, the pain originates within the ear, while in secondary diagnosis, it originates outside the ear.
Primary Causes
Conditions that cause pain which originate within the ear, include the following:
Otitis Media
Otitis media is all about a middle ear infection. In this fluid and inflamed tissue build up in the middle ear space.
Besides the pain, the person with otitis media can feel aching pain, and several days of nasal congestion, and
Earwax Blockage
The primary purpose of earwax is to protect your ear canal from water, bacteria, and injury. Sometimes, too much ear wax is produced, or wax gets pushed into the canal, that’s why the doctor recommends to not using cotton swaps.
If an earwax blockage occurs, the person may also experience hearing problems.
Eustachian Tube Blockage
The Eustachian tube is a narrow tunnel tube that connects your upper throat to your middle ear. It usually drains the excess fluid from your middle ear to your throat. If this tube gets blocked, which can be due to allergy, infection, a rapid attitude change some symptoms may occur.
- Ear Pain
- Dizziness
- Hearing Loss
- Ringing or popping in the ears
- Ear skin problems
Sometimes, pain originates from the outer skin of the ear.
Three conditions are:
- Dermatitis of the ear – This cause itching, flaking, and swelling of the skin around the ear canal, which may result in an allergic reaction or other underlying health condition
- Herpes zoster oticus – This cause serves pain along with a vesicular rash. In severe conditions, facial paralysis may occur along with ear agony and rash.
- Periauricular cellulitis – results in the red, hot and extremely tender ear.
Secondary cause
These conditions can cause pain in the ear, which originates outside of the ear.
Sinusitis
It refers to the infection or inflammation of the sinuses, which is hollow space located behind your nose, within you cheekbones and lower forehead.
Sinusitis may cause such symptoms, such as:
- Fever
- Tooth Pain
- Headache
- Ear pressure, discomfort
- Nasal congestion and discharge
Dental Problems
Dental Problems, such as a cracked tooth, decay tooth may also refer to pain in the ear. Usually, the pain gets worse by hot or cold stimuli or by biting or eating.
When to see a doctor
If you experience ear pain that is getting worse or severe for two or more days, you should immediately seek medical attention of a doctor. Other examples of situations that warrant a doctor’s attention includes,
- Ear discharge
- Ringing the ear
- Pain when tugging
- Swelling or rash
Diagnosis
To diagnose the ear pain doctor requires only the medical history and physical examination of the patient. The doctors may also recommend imaging like x-rays, CT scan, or MRI. They can also take a blood sample to test the various disease and infections.
Treatment
As there are many treatment causes of agony, there are many treatments for pain in the ear. The doctor will choose the perfect treatment according to the root cause and severity of the pain.
Medications
Pain Reliever
To ease the ear pain, the doctor may recommend you some OTC and NSAID. They can also prescribe you other pain relievers, such as codeine and dihydrocodeine. You can also buy pain medicine online to reduce the pain in the ear. You will not need the prescription of the doctor to purchase this medication.
Intravenous or oral Antibiotics
Sometimes, oral antibiotics and in severe condition intravenous antibiotic are required to treat ear pain, which is caused by severe infections, like:
- Bacterial sinusitis
- Severe cases of external otitis
- Mastoiditis
- Periauricular cellulitis
Ear Drops
The doctor may also recommend earwax-softening drops if you have earwax buildup. Do you know that ear drops are the best treatment for external otitis?
Surgery
In severe cases, a surgical procedure is needed to treat eh chronic middle pain infection. In operation, a small hole is made in your eardrum to minimize the pressure and to drain the excess fluid.