Earache: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Prevention

Ear pain or earache is a common condition in young children. It can be painful but is not a sign of anything serious. It can be a symptom of a health condition or can point to an underlying issue, such as an ear infection. The medical term for earache is otalgia and the pain can range from dull to sharp or mild to severe. Some people also experience earaches that come and go.

Types of Earache

A number of factors can cause earache. In order to better understand the cause of earache, it can be placed into two categories:

1. Primary earache: This type of ear pain originates in the ears.

2. Referred or Secondary earache: This is a condition unrelated to the ears and causes earache.

Earache Causes

Primary Earache Causes 

Common causes of primary earache include:

• Barotrauma (changes in air or water pressure)

• Arthritis of the jaw

• Earwax buildup

• Eustachian tube dysfunction

• Foreign object in the ear

• Middle ear infections

• Inner ear infections

• Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ

• Ruptured eardrum

Secondary Earache Causes 

Common causes of secondary earache include:

• Cold

• Allergies

• Toothaches

• GERD

• Sore throat

• Tonsillitis

• Sinusitis

Earache in a child or an infant can be due to an infection, and its common causes may include:

• Irritation in the ear canal due to the use of cotton-tipped swabs.

• Shampoo or soap staying in the ear.

Earache Treatment

Earache treatment varies based on the cause. OTC (over-the-counter) medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be needed to relieve ear pain. In some cases, a doctor may also medications in pill or ear drops form. These include:

• Antifungals

• Antibiotics

• Corticosteroids

How to Prevent Ear Pain? 

An earache can happen due to many reasons, and can’t always be prevented. Taking the following steps can help reduce the overall risk of earache:

1. Using cotton swabs to clean outer ears is an ideal practice; however, using cotton swabs to clean ear canals must be avoided.

2. Protect your ears when travelling in an aeroplane to avoid aeroplane ears.

3. Frequently wash hands to reduce the risk of infections.

4. Dry the ears after bathing or swimming.

5. Avoid smoking and exposure to passive smoking.

6. Avoid allergens, such as pollen and dust

When to See a Doctor

In some cases, an earache may go away on its own. However, if you still have ear pain after three days, you must see a doctor immediately. Book an appointment with an ENT specialist if you experience:

• Ear drainage

• Fever (103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher)  

• Chills

• Frequent earaches

• Hearing loss

• Nausea and vomiting

• Skin discoloration or swelling around the ear

• Severe sore throat.

FAQs

1. What to do when the ear hurts?

Some things to do in case of an earache is:

• Place a cold pack on the outer ear for about 20 minutes to reduce pain.

• Chewing may also help relieve pressure and pain caused due to an ear infection (remember, a chewing gum can be a choking hazard for young children.

• Resting in an upright position (elevation) can help reduce pressure in the middle ear.

2. What causes inner earache?

A person may experience inner earache if parts of the inner ear are inflamed or infected, causing hearing to be affected. Inner ear infections can happen in case of a cold or when a middle ear infection moves in the inner ear.

3. What is the best thing for earaches?

Taking OTC pain relievers and applying hot and cold compression to the ears can help. If pain does not get better in 2-3 days, a doctor will check for an ear infection and prescribe antibiotics.  

4. Why does my ear feel blocked?

Changes in atmospheric pressure or altitude, ear infections, Eustachian tube dysfunction, or earwax blocking the Eustachian tube are some of the common causes of clogged or blocked ears.

Article By Dr. Shashidhar TB
Head - Surgery (ENT)
Artemis Hospitals