There are many potential causes of an earache. Most of these causes are related to either an infection or some sort of trauma. Ear infections in children occur so frequently that they are the most common reason that a child will be taken to see a doctor. Despite the frequency in children, earaches are common in adults as well. The pain associated with an earache can vary in severity from minorly annoying to debilitating.
If you take yourself or a child in to see a doctor for an earache, there are some common questions that the doctor is likely to ask you. Keep these questions in mind as you think about the problem. Not every question may be asked, and there are others a doctor may think of that are not listed here – but this is a starting point.
You should know about when the earache first became noticeable. Is the pain constant, or does it come and go? What there any recent trauma to the head or ear? What is the severity of the pain? (often this is asked to be rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst) Is the pain only on one side, or in both ears? Is there pain in your jaw, especially when chewing? Is there anything you can do to make the pain better? How about doing anything to make it worse? Is there any ringing in the ear? Are you feeling any loss of balance, nausea, or vomiting? Has there been anything draining from the ear?
Yes, that’s a lot of potential questions. Bear in mind that a doctor may not ask all of them. But many of those questions can help your doctor determine the cause of the earache.
This is the most common cause of an earache, especially in children. Otitis externa is an infection of the outer ear canal. It is commonly referred to as “swimmer’s ear”, as it tends to happen when a person has been swimming and gets a lot of water in the ear. The earache will often be relatively mild, although it can be quite annoying, especially for small children. Yellow discharge from the ear is quite common. If you pull down on the earlobe, you will often make a person yelp in pain. Fever is quite common, as well as some degree of hearing loss. These will resolve when the infection is taken care of.
This is a common infection of the inner ear, behind the tympanic membrane. Hearing loss is quite common, as well as dizziness. The earache will often be throbbing and quite severe. Children with otitis media will often get multiple infections over time. Fever is common and can be quite high. It is not uncommon for otitis media to cause the tympanic membrane to rupture. This happens because the infection behind the membrane puts continuous pressure on the membrane and ultimately makes it break open. Once the membrane ruptures, drainage from the ear will be seen, but the pain generally gets better.
Earwax
Earwax can collect in the outer ear. If it becomes impacted and severe, this obstruction can cause pain in the ear. Hearing loss, itching and a sense of fullness in the ear are typical symptoms that go along with earwax.
There are various other causes of earaches. Some are more common than others, but the above three problems are the most common. Some other causes include mastoiditis, foreign bodies (think insects or toys), rapid changes in pressure, and in rare cases even some tumors.
If you are having problems with earaches, it is important to make an appointment to see your doctor. There are many causes of ear pain, and your doctor can work with you to determine the specific cause of your problem.
