When swallowing, pain in the ears may appear, which is confirmation of infection of the ear or nearby organs. This syndrome is especially dangerous in children. If your ear hurts when you swallow, how to get rid of this condition. Common causes and treatment methods are described in the article.
Pain
Pain can occur in any person, no matter how old he is. Because of this, it becomes more difficult to relax and work. The sensation of pain can be, as the only symptom, and manifest with other signs.
In any case, if the ear hurts when you swallow, you should consult a doctor. Only an experienced otolaryngologist can accurately determine the etiology of the disease due to complex diagnostic procedures, and on the basis of this an effective treatment method is prescribed.
Causes
Why does the ear hurt when you swallow? This phenomenon may be associated with:
- otitis;
- inflammations in the ENT organs: tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis;
- neoplasms in the larynx, throat ;
- mumps;
- hearing injuries.
Identify the cause of this phenomenon should be a specialist. Only on the basis of this can a suitable treatment be prescribed.
Otitis
If your ear hurts when you swallow, the cause may be inflammation of the middle ear. Pathology appears due to an infection of the respiratory system, flu and measles. The risk group includes:
- people with weak immunity;
- patients who have chronic pathologies of the nasopharynx;
- persons with a curvature of the septum of the nose or after a fracture.
Otitis occurs after infection in the middle ear through the Eustachian tube when sneezing, improper blowing of the nose or coughing. With inflammation, an increase in pressure appears inside the organ of hearing, the accumulation of fluid in the cavity. If the pathology concerns the eardrum, a pronounced pain syndrome appears. The duration of otitis media is usually not more than 3 weeks.
With this pathology, the appearance of:
- high temperature up to 38-40 degrees;
- throbbing headache;
- cramps when swallowing;
- feelings of congestion;
- purulent discharge from the affected ear;
- communication echo;
- hearing loss.
Often after a blow-out, a person's condition improves for 2-3 minutes. It is necessary to treat otitis media under the supervision of a doctor, strictly observing his recommendations.
Inflammation
The ear often hurts when you chew and swallow with an infectious lesion of the pharynx or tonsils. Inflammation in this area causes swelling of the tissues, so when swallowing pain, they are reflexively given to the hearing organs, and discomfort can occur on the right or left side. It is necessary to start the treatment of diseases of the pharynx in a timely manner so that there is no spread through the Eustachian tube to the ears.
Sometimes it is very painful to swallow and ears hurt with a runny nose. Symptom confirms the spread of inflammation in the Eustachian tube and ear, often this appears in a child.
Other reasons
Why does the ear hurt when you swallow? Cramps appear in laryngeal cancer. Oncopathology is the cause of the appearance of a prolonged pain syndrome of varying intensity. Patients experience apathy, severe fatigue, weight loss, and enlarged lymph nodes.
The cause of pain may be mumps. An infectious disease leads to swelling behind the ears due to inflammation of the parotid salivary gland. The disease occurs at high temperature, headache, malaise, swelling of the neck and face.
Epidarotitis usually occurs in children, but infection also occurs in adults. With a severe course of infection, damage to the nervous system, pancreas and genital glands occurs.
How is the diagnosis made?
Many patients complain to doctors that when they swallow saliva, the ear hurts. To determine the diagnosis, an anamnesis must be taken, instrumental examination performed. At the initial intake, the person needs to tell the doctor about the period of pain, its nature and intensity, and duration.
An otolaryngologist performs an otoscopy to assess the condition of the hearing organs. Often, a general blood and urine test is done during diagnosis, which determines the severity of the infection. Sometimes it is necessary to conduct ultrasound, radiographic diagnostics, computed tomography.
If the doctor cannot determine the cause of this phenomenon, then it is necessary to exclude:
- malignant necrotic otitis externa;
- cholesteatoma;
- inflammatory process of the temporal artery;
- malignant neoplasm;
- myocardial infarction.
Treatment
If the ear hurts, it hurts to swallow, what should I do? If this symptom occurs, you need to see a doctor. To alleviate the condition before visiting the hospital, you must take a painkiller.
Patients need to be examined by an otolaryngologist. Only a specialist is able to establish the presence of pus in the ear, the integrity of the eardrum, and conduct safe and effective therapy.
Urgent Care
It is required to get rid of painful sensations as soon as possible. If it is not possible to quickly consult a doctor, the following measures can eliminate the pain:
- It is necessary to drip drops into the nose - "Naphthyzinum", "Galazolinum". With their help, swelling of the mucous membrane of the auditory tube decreases, air circulation is restored, and, as a result, pressure in the ear cavity is normalized.
- Take a painkiller pill.
- To protect a sick ear from negative environmental factors - wind, cold, moisture. To do this, cotton turundas are inserted into the ears.
- After every 2-3 hours, it is necessary to wash the nasal cavity with saline or instill 1-2 drops in each nostril. This will moisturize the mucosa.
- If the integrity of the tympanic membrane is in order, a cotton wool turunda processed in camphor or sunflower oil is placed in the ear.
Holding warm compresses without a doctor's prescription is considered dangerous. Because of this, the infection can spread. It is important to consider that home remedies are a temporary measure. Anyway, I need the help of a doctor who, after diagnosis, will prescribe an effective treatment.
Medicines
What should be done when swallowing and sore throat and ear? If otitis media is detected at the initial stage, warming compresses and drops in the ears are effective. With severe pathologies, antibiotic therapy is prescribed.
Local drugs are often used to treat otitis media:
- Sofradex This tool has a strong antibacterial, analgesic, anti-allergenic and anti-inflammatory effect. Drops allow you to destroy streptococci and staphylococci. You need to drip 3-4 drops up to 3 times a day to eliminate swelling, itching, pain, a feeling of congestion.
- "Garazon." The medicine is available in the form of drops. It has a bactericidal, antifungal, antiviral effect. Using "Garazon" pain is eliminated, the intensity of inflammation decreases. It is necessary to bury 3-4 drops 3 times a day.
- "Anauran". A combination drug that has an antibacterial, analgesic effect. Drip should be 4-5 drops in a sore ear up to 6 times a day.
If pain occurs with inflammation of the pharynx and tonsils, then the doctor prescribes antibiotic therapy, lozenges, which have a local anti-inflammatory, analgesic effect.
Folk remedies
When an ear hurts, it hurts to swallow, than to treat from home remedies? In traditional medicine, the effective use of:
- Aloe juice. For treatment, freshly squeezed juice is required, which was diluted with warm water in equal amounts. It is required to instill 2-4 drops of the finished composition. You can not use this tool more than 1 time per day, since juice can cause skin irritation.
- Propolis tinctures. The composition is applied to twisted cotton wool (turunda), put in a painful ear for half an hour.
- Plantain juice. It has a pronounced bactericidal effect. The composition is instilled in a few drops no more than 4 times a day.
- Drops of garlic. Vegetable must be peeled, chopped until gruel. Heated sesame oil (40 ml.) Is added to it. The finished product should be instilled in 1-4 drops with severe pain.
- Ginger Juice. The tool is known for anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Juice should be instilled in 2-3 drops not more than 3 times a day.
Traditional medicine should be used only after consulting a doctor, performing an instrumental examination. It should be borne in mind that with self-treatment, an aggravation of the pathology and the development of negative consequences are likely.
Probable complications
For any infections of the ENT organs, an effective treatment is needed. In other situations, the diseases become chronic, and prolonged and costly therapy is needed. Middle ear infection can cause:
- infection of the inner ear;
- meningitis;
- encephalitis;
- damage to the facial nerve.
Ear pain usually appears due to inflammation of the ENT organs, therefore, it has a positive prognosis. But in advanced cases, the ailment becomes a cause of brain infection, death.
Prevention
In order to prevent the occurrence of many ailments, including diseases of the organ of hearing, preventive measures must be observed. It is important to adjust the nutrition. The menu should be balanced. The daily diet should include fresh fruits, vegetables, thanks to which the body's defenses increase, as well as the fight against viruses.
Often, earaches appear after bathing. In order not to lead to pain and discomfort, you need to swim only in clean reservoirs. To prevent the ingress of water into the ears, paraffin ear plugs allow. During cleansing of the ear passages, it is forbidden to use unsuitable objects - hairpins, toothpicks. Cotton buds should be used carefully. Experts advise cleaning only the outer part of the ear with cotton swabs and not putting them inside. It is necessary to timely treat a cold, cleanse the ear cavity from secretions.
If such a symptom occurs, consult a doctor as soon as possible. The sooner treatment is started, the more effective it will be and will bring positive results.