What causes earache?
Earache, medically known as otalgia, can simply be described as a feeling of pain in the ear.
Earache, medically known as otalgia, can simply be described as a feeling of pain in the ear. Pain arising from any problem occurring in the ear is defined as Primary Ear Pain, and pain arising from problems developing in areas adjacent to the ear is defined as Secondary Ear Pain.
What are the Causes of Primary Earache?
Primary ear pain, which is generally described as rapid-onset and stabbing, may occur due to many problems that develop inside the ear.
Ear Infection: Infection that develops in both the middle ear and the outer ear area can cause severe ear pain. It can be said that the most common primary cause of earache is middle ear infection, also known as otitis media. Middle ear infection, which develops very frequently especially in school age and causes earache and high fever in children, is a serious health problem that requires medical examination.
Eustachian Tube Obstruction: Eustachian tube obstruction, in which symptoms such as dizziness, ear ringing and tinnitus are observed along with ear pain, usually develops due to a middle ear infection or increased fluid in the middle ear.
Barotrauma: Partial damage to the middle ear may occur due to the effect of suddenly changing air pressure during airplane travel or scuba diving. This condition, called barotrauma, can cause problems such as eardrum perforation and temporary hearing loss.
What are the Causes of Secondary Earache?
Extra-ear infections: Especially upper respiratory tract infections such as tonsillitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis can cause a feeling of pain in the ear. This pain complaint does not require additional treatment and usually disappears with the treatment of the infection problem.
Tumors: Tumors that occur in areas such as the pharynx and larynx that are not in the ear canal but affect the ear may cause intermittent earache complaints. Ear pain caused by extra-ear tumors is usually not severe, and since it progresses slowly, the tumor may be detected late.
Jaw Joint Disorders: Diseases affecting the joints such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthrosis and Gout can cause damage to the jaw joint called the temporomandibular joint and the resulting earache. Intensification of the pain due to jaw movements such as chewing and speaking indicates ear pain caused by jaw joint disorders.
What is Good for Earache?
- Hot application with a hot towel or piece of cloth heated by an iron has a relieving effect on earache.
- Chewing gum and intermittent stretching relieves ear pain by reducing the pressure on the Eustachian tube.
- Earache complaints may also occur due to a blockage problem due to earwax. To relieve this pain, you can clean the area around the ear and the inside of the auricle with a soft cotton tissue. Hard objects such as earwax can damage the eardrum and cause serious problems such as hearing loss.
Although the methods mentioned to relieve earache are effective, the best practice is to treat the health problem that causes the pain. For this, you should go to a doctor’s examination as soon as possible and take care to apply the planned treatment regularly.
