Ear pain: causes, symptoms and treatment

Ear pain is a common problem that can cause a person a lot of inconvenience and discomfort. This unpleasant symptom can be episodic or permanent. At times, pain in the auricle is a sign of serious illness. To find the right treatment, you need to clearly identify the cause that caused the problem.

Common Causes of Ear Pain

Ear pain is a fairly common phenomenon that can be caused by a number of reasons. So, unpleasant sensations can occur if the following health problems occur:

• inflammatory processes (both in the ear itself and in neighboring organs);
• arthritis and arthrosis of the maxillofacial joint;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes and salivary glands;
• damage to the auditory nerve;
• pathology of ENT organs;
• malignant and benign tumors.

However, ear pain is not always a sign of illness. It may well occur in healthy people for the following reasons:

• being on the street without a hat during a strong and cold wind (in this case, the pain passes on its own after a while and does not require additional treatment);
• since there is hair in the ears, there is a risk of inflammation of the bulbs, which leads to severe pain;
• allergic reactions;
• ingress of water as a result of taking a bath or swimming in a reservoir (if the fluid does not come out of the ear in a short time, otitis media may develop);
• excessive accumulation of sulfur in the auricle can lead to pain and a feeling of congestion (similar symptoms may also be accompanied by insufficient secretion of sulfur).

It is important to understand that the causes of ear pain can be very diverse, and therefore, in each individual case, treatment should be approached differentially. If you can not independently determine the nature of the discomfort, then do not self-medicate. It is better to seek advice from the ENT specialist.

Causes of Ear Pain in Children

Ear pain is a fairly common problem when it comes to children's health. So, it can be caused by the following reasons:

• otitis media, which may be due to acute respiratory viral infection or congenital abnormalities of the auricles;
• acute or chronic sore throat;
• eustachitis (inflammatory processes in the area of ​​the auditory tube);
• mumps (the disease is popularly known as mumps);
• teething, caries and other problems of the oral cavity can lead to pain in the ears.

The protective functions of the child's body are quite weak, and therefore babies often suffer from infectious and inflammatory diseases, which are accompanied by pain in the ears. To avoid the development of chronic pathologies and avoid possible complications in the future, treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a pediatrician and an ENT doctor.

Inflammatory diseases

Ear pain often occurs due to inflammatory processes. One of the most common diseases is otitis externa. Its symptoms may be as follows:

• pain in the auricle that does not disappear for several days;
• hearing loss;
• feeling of stuffiness, itching and noise;
• increase in body temperature;
• redness of the skin;
• with any contact with the ear, pain intensifies.

Quite often, external otitis media, in addition to pain, can also have external manifestations. So, if we are talking about perichondritis, then the ear cartilage is very inflamed. As a result, redness will occur.

Furunculosis can be considered a much more unpleasant manifestation of external otitis media. The initial manifestation looks like a slight reddish swelling, the touch of which is very painful. In the center is a purulent head, which in no case can be opened independently to avoid infection.

Otitis media is a much more serious problem, which can be associated with injuries or the penetration of infection into the inner cavity of the ear. Symptoms of this disease can be the same as in the previous case, only more pronounced.

Internal otitis media is the most serious form of this disease. In this case, the cause of ear pain is a lesion of the bone labyrinth, as well as the channels surrounding it. In addition, there is a significant risk of damage to the auditory receptors and the vestibular apparatus. In addition to the symptoms inherent in external and average otitis media, internal may be accompanied by the following manifestations:

• dizziness, which may be accompanied by severe nausea;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• twitching eye;
• total or partial hearing loss.

Eustachitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the Eustachian tube. In this case, the pain can be either very intense or minor, or even completely absent. You can recognize the disease by symptoms such as congestion in the ears, a sensation of noise and cod, and hearing impairment. There may also be an unpleasant feeling, as if there is water in the ear.

Mastoiditis is an inflammation of the bony protrusion located on the cranium behind the ear. The main symptom of this disease is a strong throbbing pain both in the shell and behind it. In addition, mastoiditis is accompanied by such external manifestations as swelling, redness and purulent discharge from the ear. In addition, body temperature can increase dramatically.

The question of how to relieve ear pain is decided individually in each case. Before proceeding with the treatment of inflammatory diseases, you need to undergo a full examination and pass all the necessary tests.

Injuries

Acute ear pain is often the result of an injury. Most often, specialists deal with damage of the following nature:

• Bruises - may be the result of a fall or a strong blow. Pain is associated with the formation of a hematoma. And if blood or any other fluid is released from the ear, then the risk of a skull fracture is high.
• Barotrauma - associated with a sharp jump in pressure in the eardrum. The reason may be a sudden loud sound. Also, a similar problem can occur when you are on an airplane or when driving at high speed. In most cases, congestion and pain go away without medical intervention.
• Pain in the auricle is often the result of foreign bodies entering the cavity. Small objects or insects entering the auditory canal cause inflammation and swelling. You should immediately contact an ENT doctor to eliminate the cause of the discomfort.
• Rupture of the tympanic membrane not only causes severe pain, but also leads to partial or complete hearing loss. The cause may be the ingress of a foreign body, as well as negligence during hygiene procedures.

The hearing organs have a rather complex and fragile structure, and therefore they are quite sensitive to various kinds of injuries. To protect yourself from pain in the ears, it is important not only to strengthen the immune system and observe the temperature regime, but also protect them from mechanical damage.

First aid for ear pain

Ear pain in adults or children can cause a lot of discomfort and lead to serious complications, which is why it is recommended not to delay a visit to a specialist. Especially when it comes to injuring or getting foreign objects in your ear. If the pain is severe, it is better to limit any movement and call an ambulance. In other cases, it is permissible to resort to the following methods of first aid:

• an alcohol compress helps to alleviate unpleasant symptoms , while you need to make a cut for the ear canal;
• quickly relieve pain analgesics;
• ENT doctors also recommend the use of special drops.

Ear pain: medication treatment

The sooner you start treatment, the faster you will get rid of unpleasant symptoms and prevent the risk of complications. Of course, it is not recommended to prescribe medications for yourself. Any medication should be taken strictly as prescribed by the doctor.

Before proceeding to a full treatment, you need to eliminate the discomfort. For this, anesthetic may be prescribed. For ear pain (moderate), paracetamol is prescribed. For additional exposure, Otipax drops or their analogues can be used.

If you have a feeling of stuffiness in your ears and hearing is impaired, pay attention to the condition of the nose. Using "Naphthyzine", "Nazivin" or other drops to eliminate congestion, you will immediately feel relief.

If severe ear pain is accompanied by fever and purulent discharge, then most likely you will have to undergo antibiotic treatment. But before that, the otolaryngologist must conduct a thorough examination and conduct all necessary procedures aimed at cleaning and disinfecting the auditory canal. The choice of drugs should be approached with particular responsibility, because they have a lot of side effects. The safest antibiotic is Amoxicillin.

The course of treatment for ear pain lasts an average of 10 days. During this time, it is important not only to take medicines on time, but also to monitor the general condition of the body.

Drops of ear pain

Ear pain is sometimes unbearable. No need to endure it, because you can use special drugs. So, the following popular drops for ear pain can be distinguished:

• "Anauran" is an indispensable tool for those who have chronic ear problems. Thanks to the combined composition, the drops have not only analgesic, but also antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects. The tool has virtually no side effects.
• "Garazon" - contains an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory substances. Due to the concentrated composition, the doses of the drug may be small.
• Otinum is a fairly popular local drug. Its active components contribute to the rapid relief of pain, as well as the elimination of inflammation.
• Otipax is an ear drop whose active components are phenazone and lidocaine. The latter quickly and permanently eliminates pain. In addition, this tool has an active disinfecting effect, during which the eardrum remains unharmed. Otipax is simply indispensable if the pain is accompanied by swelling and severe inflammation.
• Otof drops contain an antibiotic in their composition, which helps to quickly cope with inflammations and infections. This drug is one of the few that is approved for the treatment of children and pregnant women.
• "Polydex" - in addition to anti-inflammatory, the drug also has an antihistamine effect.
• Sofradex is a drop that contains a broad-spectrum antibiotic. They quickly eliminate pain, swelling and itching. Due to the presence of a hormonal substance (dexamethasone) in the composition, drops are not recommended for prolonged use.

Traditional methods of treating ear pain

Traditional medicine knows many recipes for all ailments. So, if you have been taken aback by an ear pain, healers and herbalists are advised to use the following remedies:

• almond oil needs to be slightly warmed up in a water bath, after which literally 2-3 drops are instilled into the big ear ;
• for washing the ears, an infusion made from a teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers, filled with a glass of hot water, is ideal;
• beets boiled in honey water can be used as a compress;
• if the pain is caused by complications after a cold, then you can cope with it by introducing a tampon soaked in onion or garlic juice into the ear canal;
• pronounced analgesic effect has an infusion of lemon balm, prepared at the rate of 1 teaspoon of raw materials per glass of boiling water (it must be buried in the ears, and also drunk instead of tea);
• to prepare an effective composition for a compress, add a little camphor oil to an ammonia bottle and pour this mixture into a liter of water in which salt was previously dissolved in the amount of a tablespoon (shake the composition until it becomes homogeneous);
• in equal proportions, mix honey and propolis tincture and instill the resulting product into your ears for the night.

Preventative measures

Ear pain can deliver a lot of discomfort. That is why it is worth paying due attention to prevention so that you do not have to spend a lot of time and money on treatment. The following preventive measures are known:

• despite the convenience of ear sticks and other elongated items for cleaning your ears, their use is undesirable because sulfur can go even deeper;
• be sure to use special earplugs if you are swimming in ponds or pools (after the end of bathing, you need to dry your auricles);
• it is necessary to protect the ear canals from excess noise, not only in working conditions, but also in everyday life;
• to avoid possible problems with the ears, you should carefully monitor the condition of the nose and prevent the ingress of fluid into it;
• Foreign objects should not enter the ear canal (sometimes even a small sliver or something similar can cause a serious inflammatory process);
• in case of the slightest discomfort and hearing loss, immediately go to an appointment with a specialist.

conclusions

Earache is a fairly common symptom, which, unfortunately, many people pay insufficient attention to. As a result, discomfort develops into a serious chronic disease. The reason for this situation is that not all people are aware of the possible causes of ear pain. These can be inflammatory processes directly in the shell, as well as in the nose or throat. In addition, the cause of pain in the ears can be injuries that are fraught with damage to the cartilage and eardrum.

Treatment in each case is selected individually. But the first thing you need to deal with discomfort. Ear drops for pain in the ear - this is one of the most effective means. To enhance their effect, paracetamol or other anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed. In cases where pain is accompanied by an increase in body temperature and a deterioration in well-being, you may have to resort to taking antibiotics. Also, do not forget about strengthening immunity in order to avoid repeated exacerbation and the transition of the disease into a chronic form.