As the name suggests, ear pain is a condition that is characterised by painful sensation in one or both the ears. It is usually believed to affect the kids. However, adults can also experience earache or pain. The sensation caused by ear pain can be dull, burning, or sharp.
Fever and temporary loss of hearing often accompany the condition. Ear pains can vary in their severity, with some being a gentle throbbing pain and others being so severe that it becomes difficult to walk. Some of the most common causes of ear pain include a buildup of hardened earwax, a quick change in air pressure, swimmer's ear, infection, etc.
There are two types of ear pain that come with this ailment.
Ear infection is one of the most common causes of earache. ear infection includes outer, middle, and inner ear infection.
Whereas earache can also be caused due to other reasons like accumulation of earwax or sudden change in air pressure.
Ear pain can be caused by:
It is important to note that ear pain can sometimes be cause by other underlying conditions such as sinusitis, problems in your teeth, an infection in your nose or the pharynx, cancer in your throat, or an aura that comes right before a migraine, medical conditions such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome etc. This is why it is important to not solely rely on home remedies for ear pain and to visit your doctor in a timely fashion.
You should consider your pain seriously if you are also experiencing:-
If ear pain is accompanied by following symptoms then it is serious and you need to approach a doctor:-
Yes, ear pain can be caused without ear infection also due to other reasons mentioned below.
Yes, Earache can be caused due to stress in the jaw joint which arises while we are chewing food, crunching, yawning or maybe sometime due to personal stress.
No,Ear pain can be caused due to other reason as well such as:-
Usually, the earwax formed in the ear gets disposed of on its own. However, this is not the case every time. Occasionally, the earwax accumulates and hardens. This leads to a blockage in the ear passage which causes pain.
Sudden change in air pressure can adversely affect the balance of pressure maintained in both the ears. This causes a pop like sensation in the ear and which may be pa.
Ear pain is a condition that usually goes away on its own. However, sometimes it may require attention. For an ear pain that is not severe, home remedies can be considered.
You can follow the below-mentioned home remedies to get relief from ear pain:
Yes,a minor earache can go away within a few days on its own. If your ear ache continues for more than 3-4 days and it is also accompanied by other symptoms like nausea, fever then you need to consult a doctor.
But in case of chronic ear infection which is accompanied by inflammation, fluid discharge, infection it does not go by itself. It can reoccur again as it does not completely heal.
Visiting an ENT specialist (ear, nose, throat) is the first step in ensuring that the treatment occurs. The doctor will first use an otoscope or an auriscope to have a look inside your ear. This will help determine the exact cause of the pain.
For moderate to severe ear pain, medical treatment should be sought. A physician will determine the most effective treatment for your ear pain. Some of the treatment options include:
As is the case with most medications, there are certain side effects that you should be vary of. If your doctor has prescribed antibiotics to treat your ear infection, you can expect a mild fever to develop as most antibiotics raise the temperature of your body. Thus, it’s nothing to be alarmed about.
Some eardrops can lead to drowsiness and should not be taken right before performing physical activities or driving as that can be highly dangerous. Such drops are usually meant to be administered at night when you can fall asleep without worry. If you are allergic to any substance, it is best to discuss that with your health care provider so that he or she can administer medication that does not contain the allergen.
Some of the earaches that are not caused by an underlying condition can be prevented. You can follow the below-mentioned measures to reduce the likelihood of earaches:
keep two or three pillows behind your head so that your head region is at a higher position compared to the rest of the body.
There are no specific post-treatment guidelines for ear pain, although there are guidelines that you must follow while the treatment is going on. The most important guideline is to ensure that your ears do not get wet in any circumstance. This is because it can cause the infection to spread and can also contribute to further pain and blockages.
It is also generally advised not to sit in a flight or travel to high altitudes that will make your ears pop as your ears are generally sensitive during this time period and any random stimulus can increase your recovery time if you are not careful.
Most ear pain treatments last anywhere between 7-10 days. As you continue to take your medications, you will notice a gradual decrease in your symptoms or your pain on a daily basis until the whole thing is gone. If your ear pain is caused due to any other condition that you may be suffering from, then it takes much longer to recover. Until that condition is treated completely, the referral pain in your ear may not completely go away.
To get rid of the ear pain, you can opt for common home remedies. These remedies can effectively reduce pain without causing any side effects. Some of them:
Ear drops are quite affordable in India. They range in price from Rs 30 to Rs 100, depending on the medication you are prescribed. The same goes for any oral medication that you might be taking in order to treat ear pain.
Treating your ear pain can be permanent. In some case, ear infections do reoccur however, those infections are usually looked upon as a fresh infection rather than the same one coming back again. If your ear pain is the result of a different condition you may have, treating the pain alone will only work for a short period of time. Whether it takes days or weeks, the pain is bound to return to alert you of whatever condition you may be suffering from. Generic ear pain treatment results are normally permanent.
These are various methods administered to relieve the ear pain based on cases
The ear pain caused while swallowing is usually due to an ear or throat infection. Therefore, the pain can be relieved by taking medication for the underlying condition. If the pain persists, consult your doctor.
You can follow the below-mentioned measures to ease ear pain that occurs while flying:
The ear pain experienced while chewing can be a symptom of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. The condition and its symptoms including ear pain usually resolve on their own. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication can also be taken to get relief from the ear pain
There are many home remedies and alternative treatments that can be used in order to treat ear pain. Some of these are quite common and many people resort to using them before seeing a doctor. Natural remedies to soothe ear pain include:
Though many home remedies are known for being successful, it is worth mentioning that it is always better to consult with a health care professional before administering any treatment as you may end up worsening the symptoms. As ear pain can be indicative of other ailments, it is in your best interests to get checked out by a doctor.
Both heat and ice are effective for ear pain: