As a rule, pain behind the ear on the right when pressed may indicate that the patient is developing a process of inflammation or infection. In addition to such symptoms, patients often have symptoms such as enlarged lymph nodes and the appearance of bumps. They can cause unbearable pain with every touch. This article provides information about the methods of treatment and prevention of this kind of manifestations.
Brief information
The anatomy of the auditory organ is such that its inner part is located next to the cranial cavity and is very close to the brain tissue. That is why inflammation can go to the inner ear, and then spread to the area of the head. In order to get rid of pain, you must consult a doctor who will conduct all the necessary diagnostics. This is especially necessary if it gives to the head. The pain behind the ear on the right cannot be ignored or self-medicated. Otherwise, this will lead to serious complications, as well as a pathological process that cannot be reversed.
Causes
Pain over the ear on the right can be either unilateral or bilateral, most often it occurs against a background of various types of inflammation. The external, middle or internal region of the hearing aid may be affected. Depending on this, a disease such as otitis media is distinguished.
The reason can also be the sulfur plug formed inside the ear.
Often the pain causes mastoiditis - inflammation of the sinus inside the temple.
Inflammation of the lymph nodes is called lymphadenitis and is also the cause of the throbbing pain behind the ear on the right.
Sialadenitis occurs when the salivary gland becomes inflamed.
And finally, diseases such as mumps or herpes (simple or herpes zoster) can cause problems. These diseases are infectious.
When a person begins to feel pain behind his right ear, first of all, you need to understand which of the symptoms appeared earlier, and classify them. After this, you need to seek medical help and tell the specialist the following information:
- Whether the pain is constant, or sometimes it stops.
- How long the discomfort lasts.
- What kind of pain a person feels: acute, aching, or sore.
- Whether it is one-sided or two-sided.
- Are there other symptoms besides the pain syndrome: does the temperature rise, does the patient feel weak, dizzy, or have hearing problems.
After the doctor receives all the information, it will be easier for him to determine the diagnosis and prescribe treatment to eliminate discomfort in the ear.
Otitis and its types
As a rule, otitis media may appear due to complications of infections occurring in the body or develop independently. The most dangerous types of illness are considered to be internal and medium, because they can damage the eardrum and affect the quality of a person's hearing, which cannot be restored.
Otitis may occur if the patient does not follow the hygiene of his ears too well, cleans them with foreign objects, such as a pencil or straw, bathes in contaminated water, or if his body is weakened due to a lack of vitamins or seasonal diseases.
Consider the symptoms of otitis media. Signs of this disease include:
- Pain and swelling of the ear, which are aggravated by palpation.
- The presence of pus in the ear canal.
- Change in the general condition of the body, fever, lethargy.
- Analgesics do not eliminate the pain syndrome, the pain is most often pulsating.
- Hearing loss is reduced.
- If the disease has also covered the inner ear, in other words, if a person begins to develop labyrinthitis, hearing decreases significantly until it is lost, a person feels nauseous, dizzy.
To cure any variant of otitis media, it is necessary to use broad-spectrum antibiotics, as well as medications that relieve swelling and relieve inflammation.
Sulfur cork
Sulfur cork is formed in the ear due to the specific structure of its outer part and insufficient care for it. As a rule, it is removed if it was able to completely fill the outer area of the passage and caused partial hearing loss. A person with an ear plug cannot hear only in one ear that has suffered, while the condition of the whole organism remains normal.
Trying to clean the ear canal on your own using improvised means, such as a hairpin or a match, can only condense the earwax, especially if the period between cleansing was long. A special stick is only suitable to clean the outside of the organ.
In order to get rid of sulfuric plugs and pain in the head behind the ear on the right, you need to use ordinary water. As a rule, the doctor collects a little fluid in the Spitz and releases it under pressure, which is why the unwanted seal comes out.
Mastoiditis
Mastoiditis is an inflammation of the paranasal sinus of the hearing system, which is located behind the auricle inside the temporal bone. If microbes penetrate into it and this will contribute to the development of inflammation, then you can get to the complication and then otitis media will appear. In its nonspecific symptoms, mastoiditis is similar to a standard ailment of an average course:
- Pain is very pronounced and concentrated behind the auricle.
- On palpation, soft bone is felt.
- The general condition of the body changes, there is an increase in temperature, the appearance of weakness and dizziness.
- Pus appears in the outer passage.
In order to cure mastoiditis, antibiotic therapy is necessary, the course of which should be long. Sometimes an operational method of treatment is required: you need to open the sinus and remove the purulent contents.
Lymphadenitis
This disease is characterized by an inflammatory change in the lymph nodes located behind the auricle and pain in the neck behind the ear on the right. As a rule, education increases, becomes painful and swollen. Lymphadenitis manifests itself as a complication of other diseases that are accompanied by swollen lymph nodes, such as oncology or mononucleosis. If you suspect the development of this ailment, you must urgently seek medical help.
Sialadenitis
The disease occurs with insufficient hygiene of the oral cavity and teeth, due to which the salivary glands located near the ear become inflamed, their consistency becomes denser and becomes more viscous. In this case, the pain syndrome extends not only to the oral cavity, but also to the hearing organs. As a rule, one of the sides of the face is usually affected. As a treatment, medications that fight inflammation and bacteria are used.
Parotitis
This disease is viral, and it affects the endocrine glands. However, sometimes it extends to salivary. Most often, children are affected by this disease. The salivary gland swells and becomes painful. As a rule, the disease spreads immediately on both sides. If the parotid gland is affected, then intolerable pain syndrome covers this area, the state worsens when chewing. To treat pain behind the ear, medications that reduce inflammation are used on the right, and the patient undergoes warming and detoxification.
Herpes (simple and herpes zoster)
From the very beginning, the patient feels a burning sensation and tingling in the area behind the ear; after a few days, other symptoms appear, such as rashes and blisters. In order to cure a person in this case, doctors prescribe him an antiviral ointment, such as Acyclovir. In no case should you try to get rid of the discomfort yourself, in this case, medical attention is needed.
Ear Disease Prevention
Some people mistakenly believe that as a prophylaxis of various diseases of the hearing organs, it will be enough only to wash them regularly and clean them with cotton buds. However, this is not at all true.
As a rule, after washing your hair, you need to pat your ears with a towel, because the moisture in your ears is not completely eliminated with cotton buds and becomes a breeding ground for germs.
Do not pick your ears with foreign objects, such as a pencil, paper clip or even a toothpick. Even cotton buds, although considered safer, can do some harm. The fact is that they clean the auricle, but also relieve it of the protective layer, which prevents the growth of bacteria.
Therefore, from time to time it is necessary to use antibacterial drops, which can be bought at a pharmacy. They help get rid of moisture inside the ears and eliminate bacteria.
So, with the help of cotton buds you can’t clean the ear canal and try to get rid of the cork, as it will make the sulfur more dense and getting rid of it will not be so easy. The sticks are only suitable for cleaning the ears outside, but not inside.
But these are not all the rules that must be observed to avoid diseases of the hearing aid.
It is necessary to wear a hat, no matter how hackneyed it may sound, so that the ears are protected from the winds and cold, this is especially true in winter weather.
Monitor your health, prevent the possible spread of infection or inflammation during colds. Indeed, even such seemingly safe diseases as influenza or SARS can be complicated, which will affect the ears.
It is necessary to visit the otolaryngologist, undergo a routine examination, even if a person feels fine and does not experience any unpleasant sensations in the area of the ears. If symptoms appear, then you should seek help immediately.