Topic Overview
Ear problems may be caused by many different health
problems. In children, ear pain is more likely to be a symptom of an
inflammation, infection, or fluid buildup in the external or middle ear. But
ear pain at any age may be a symptom of:
Ear problems caused by an injury to the ear can occur at any
age. Common injuries include the following:
- A fall or a forceful, direct blow to the side of
the head can
burst the eardrum or damage the tiny bones in the
inner ear that send sound to the brain.
- An injury during contact sports, such as a "cauliflower" ear injury from wrestling.
- Loud noises or explosions
can damage the eardrum (acoustic trauma).
- Atmospheric pressure changes (barotrauma) can cause
problems with the
eustachian tube and trap air in or keep air out of the
middle ear. Middle ear problems can be severe (for example, the ear drum can
burst or the middle ear can fill with blood or pus) or mild and only be felt as
changes in pressure.
- Cuts or scrapes may injure the outside of the
ear or ear canal. For more information, see the topic
Ear Canal Problems (Swimmer's Ear).
- Cleaning the ear canal too
often, too forcefully, or with a cotton swab, bobby pin, or sharp fingernail
can cause irritation or injury.
- Burns or frostbite can cause ear
injuries (thermal injuries).
- Objects placed in the ear can cause
injury to the ear canal or the ear drum (tympanic membrane).
Hearing loss often comes with age. As people get older, ear
problems are more likely to be related to:
- Heredity. The age of onset and how quickly the
hearing loss progresses can often be determined by studying family members with
hearing loss.
- The buildup of
earwax. For more information, see the topic
Earwax.
- Exposure to loud noises, such as
setting off an air bag during a car crash, machines at work, power tools,
gunshots, or loud music.
- Other serious medical problems, such as
Ménière's disease or an
acoustic neuroma.
- Skin reaction
(dermatitis) on the outside of the ear or in the ear canal from perfume, hair
dye, or wearing hearing aids.
The ear shares nerves with other parts of the face, eyes, jaw,
teeth, and upper neck. Pain that feels as if it is in the ear may be coming
from another part of the head or neck. This is called
referred ear pain and is more common in older adults.
Causes of referred ear pain can include dental problems, jaw pain (temporomandibular disorder), salivary gland infection, or a
sinus infection.
Check your
symptoms to decide if and when you should see a doctor.
Check Your Symptoms
Home Treatment
Home treatment may be all that is
needed to relieve minor or intermittent ear discomfort.
- To ease ear pain, apply a warm washcloth or a
heating pad set on low. There may be some drainage from
the ear when the heat melts
earwax.
- Do not use a heating pad when you are in bed. You may fall asleep and burn yourself.
- Do not use a heating pad on
a child.
- Try an
ice or cold pack to reduce swelling from a minor injury or sunburn. Apply
for 15 minutes 3 or 4 times a day during the first 48 hours after the injury.
The sooner you apply a cold pack, the less swelling you are likely to have.
Place a cloth between the ice and your skin.
- Oral or nasal
decongestants may relieve ear pain, especially if the
pain is related to fluid behind the eardrum (otitis media with effusion). Avoid products that contain antihistamines, which tend to
cause more blockage, unless allergies seem to be the problem.
- Chewing gum may help relieve pressure changes
in the ear, such as when flying in an airplane.
- Try a
nonprescription earwax remover if your ear feels plugged but you do not have
obvious
signs of infection. Be sure to follow the label
directions carefully.
- Do not use ear candles. They have no proven benefit in the removal of earwax or the
treatment of other ear problems, and they can cause serious injury.
Medicine you can buy without a prescription| Try a nonprescription
medicine to help treat your fever or pain: |
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Safety tips| Be sure to follow these
safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine: |
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- Carefully read and follow all directions
on the medicine bottle and box.
- Do not take more than the
recommended dose.
- Do not take a medicine if you have had an
allergic reaction to it in the past.
- If
you have been told to avoid a medicine, call your doctor before you take
it.
- If you are or could be pregnant, do not take any medicine other
than acetaminophen unless your doctor has told you to.
- Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than age 20 unless your doctor tells you to.
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Symptoms to watch for during home treatment
Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home
treatment:
- Pain develops or increases.
- Fever
or other
signs of ear infection develop.
- New or
different drainage from the ear develops.
- Other symptoms develop,
such as hearing loss or vertigo.
- Your symptoms become more severe
or frequent.
Prevention
You may be able to prevent ear
problems.
- Teach your children to blow their noses gently.
Remember to do this yourself also.
- Keep soap and shampoo out of the
ear canal. These products can cause itching, which can be mistaken for an ear
infection because of the need to scratch or pull at the ears.
- Do
not put cotton swabs, bobby pins, or other objects (especially if they are
sharp) in the ear canal.
- Limit your contact with others who have
colds, when possible.
- Protect your ears from sunburn and frostbite.
- Apply sunscreen to your ears and wear a hat
that shades the ears in the summer.
- Wear a hat that covers the ears
in the winter.
- Limit or avoid exposure to loud noises such as
music, power tools, gunshots, and industrial machinery.
- Wear
protective earplugs or earmuffs if you can't avoid loud noises.
- Avoid the prolonged use of earplugs. They
can cause irritation, itching, and can plug the ear with wax.
- Do
not use wadded-up tissue or cotton balls. These do not protect adequately
against loud noises (especially the more dangerous high frequencies) and they
may become lodged in the ear canal.
- Avoid exposing children to cigarette smoke, which
is linked with more frequent ear infections. If you smoke and are unable to
stop, smoke outside, away from children.
- Stop smoking. Smoking
irritates the mucous membranes that line the nose, sinuses, and lungs, and it
may contribute to inflammation or infection of the ear. See the topic
Quitting Smoking.
- If ear pain appears to
be related to a problem with your jaw, see the topic
Temporomandibular (TM) Disorders for tips on relaxing
the muscles in this area.
- Take good care of your teeth. Daily
brushing and flossing, along with regular dental checkups, helps prevent tooth
decay, infections, and other dental problems that can lead to referred ear
pain.
- If you wear hearing aids, be sure to follow the
manufacturer's recommendations carefully for cleaning and storing
them.
- For tips on how to prevent swimmer's ear, see the topic
Ear Canal Problems (Swimmer's Ear).
Preparing For Your Appointment
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your
doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the
following questions:
- Do you have ear pain?
- When did the pain start?
- What
were you doing when the pain started?
- Does the pain come from the
inside or the outside of your ear?
- Has the pain been constant, or
does it come and go?
- Does anything make the pain better or
worse?
- Have you ever had this type of ear problem before?
If yes, what was the diagnosis and how was it treated?
- What other
symptoms do you have? Do you have a fever, runny nose, cough, congestion, or
jaw discomfort?
- Do you suspect a hearing problem? Be prepared to
describe your symptoms.
- Do you have hearing loss or ringing in the
ears (tinnitus)?
- Does your hearing problem
affect just one ear or both ears?
- Do you use hearing aids?
- Have you had a
recent injury to the ear?
- Do you have any other symptoms in your
eye, teeth, jaw, facial muscles, or neck that might suggest
referred pain?
- Do you have drainage from
the ear? If yes, what does it look and smell like?
- Have you had
problems with earaches or ear infections in the past?
- Have you been
swimming or had other recent exposure to water, such as through surfing,
kayaking, or scuba diving?
- Do you regularly use a hot tub or home
spa?
- Have you recently traveled by plane?
- What home
treatment measures have you used? Be sure to include nonprescription and
prescription medicines you have tried.
- Do you have any
health risks?
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
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| Last Revised | January 12, 2012 |
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