Earache
A severe, dull, or burning discomfort in one or both ears is known as an earache. The discomfort could be fleeting or persistent.
Earaches typically affect youngsters, but they can also affect adults. The ear pain may be subtle, severe, or searing and may be continual or intermittent.
Earache symptoms
Injuries or ear infections can cause earaches.
Adult symptoms include:
- Ears hurt
- Distorted hearing
- Fluid coming out of the ear
Additional symptoms, such as these, are frequently present in children:
- Ears hurt
- Trouble hearing noises
- Fever
- Insomnia
- Pulling on the ear or tugging
- Sobbing or displaying signs of increased irritability
- Headache
- Reduced appetite
Earache causes
Earaches can result from trauma, infection, ear irritation, referred pain, or both. Referred pain refers to the discomfort experienced away from the illness or injury site. For instance, ear pain could result from pain in the jaw or teeth.
The following are some potential earache causes:
Ear infections. Ear pain or earaches arise frequently. The external, middle and internal ears are all susceptible to ear infections
Other typical reasons:
- Pressure fluctuation, such as while riding in an airplane
- Accumulation of earwax
- An external body in the ear
- Throat infection
- Nasal congestion
- Shampoo or water that got stuck in your ear
- Cotton swabs usage in the ears
Self-treating an earache
You can take plenty of action at home to lessen earache pain.
To reduce ear pain, consider the following:
- Wrap the ear in a cool washcloth
- Do not get the ear moist
- To assist with ear pressure, sit up straight
- Make use of OTC (over-the-counter) ear drops
- Ingest OTC painkillers
- Gum chewing can help you decompress
- Have something to eat to keep the mind relax
Medical assessment
Your doctor will recommend either eardrops or oral medications if you have an ear infection. Sometimes they’ll recommend both medicines.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022