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Earache

General Information

Ear pain can be primary or referred.
Primary ear pain originates from the ear itself. Examples include otitis media and otitis externa.
- Otitis media is an infection of the middle portion of the ear behind the tympanic membrane. It is very common in children but less common in adults.
- Otitis externa is also called Swimmer's Ear and it is an infection of the external ear canal. Swimmers and people who frequently use Q-tips are more likely to get it. Otitis externa is more common than otitis media in adults.
Referred ear pain means that the pain originates from a disease process outside of the ear. Because of the manner in which the nerves run in the head, the pain may be perceived as being in the ear. Examples of referred ear pain include dental abscess, TMJ Syndrome, and tonsillitis.