Ear Pain
The Many Causes Of Ear Pain
Most of us have experienced ear pain at one time or another, usually when we were children. We sometimes had earaches, which might linger for a day or two, and then go away. It wasn't unusual that the earaches accompanied a cold, the flu or some other disorder, but at times they also occurred when nothing else was wrong with us.
Ear pain can be anywhere from mild and annoying to quite severe. It can be caused by a problem in the ear itself, called a direct cause, or it can be a symptom of some disorder in a part of the body other than the ear. This is called an indirect cause of ear pain. Whether direct or indirect, pain is still pain, and if severe enough or prolonged, something needs to be done about it. In some instances, ear pain can be treated at home, using ear drops, or antibiotics if an in infection is suspected. In other cases your primary care provider may need to be seen. In instances where an ear condition may be serious or difficult to treat, one may need to visit an otologist or ear specialist.
Infections And Trauma - Most ear pain we tend to encounter occurs because something is affecting either the ear canal (outer ear) or the middle ear. While disorders or diseases in the inner ear can cause pain, these disorders are much less common. Pain in the outer ear usually is the result of an infection, which leads to inflammation, or pressure on or a puncture of the ear drum. The latter of course is extremity painful, but as bad as it sounds, a punctured eardrum will usually heal itself. In cases of a severe puncture or tear, plastic surgery may be necessary to repair the ear drum. A rather common source of pain results from what is known as swimmer's ear, where water becomes trapped in the ear canal, in turn leading to infection and inflammation. Swimmer's ear is also known as acute external otitis. A foreign object lodged in the ear canal can have the same effect, as can a cyst or a skin disorder that has resulted in an infection.
If we are flying or underwater diving, we usually experience some pressure on the eardrums. Most often the symptom is a temporary lessening in hearing ability, or a popping of the ears. If the pressure differential between the middle ear and the outer ear is enough however, sufficient pressure may be placed on the eardrum to cause ear pain. Swallowing is one of the better preventive measures under these conditions.
Middle Ear Problems - It's quite common for children (or adults) to experience ear pain just after having their tonsils removed. This type of pain, not necessarily severe, will often linger on for several days. Children suffering from colds or the fly will sometimes experience ear pain. If the Eustachian tube, which leads from the back of the throat to the middle ear becomes infected, pus can back up into the middle ear and put pressure on the eardrum, causing pain. This is the same tube that serves to keep the pressure differential between the inner and middle ear to a minimum, which is why swallowing often helps when a pressure differential exists. If the Eustachian tube is blocked because of an infection, swallowing is not going to be of much help.
Some Other Causes - Other causes of ear pain, both direct and indirect, include a buildup of wax in the outer ear, which can cause inflammation, dental problems, where pain in the area of the jaw radiates to the vicinity of the ear, and cancers or inflammation of tissues and bone structure in the vicinity of the ear. The Herpes zoster virus, or chickenpox-shingles virus if you will, can cause ear pain, often through forming blisters on the ear drum. There are a number of serious illnesses, seemingly unrelated to the ear, for which ear pain is but one symptom.
Even though the chance that ear pain indicates a serious condition is relatively small, anything beyond a short-term or mild earache should be looked into by a primary care provider, just to ensure that a condition is not present that demands immediate attention, and also to get some relief.