Ear pain

Ear pain

Earache is a common reason for a doctor's appointment for young children. It is often caused by an ear infection, but other diseases, both locally in the ear and elsewhere, can give rise to pain in the ear.

What is an earache?

Earache (otalgia) is pain in the ear. Most people have experienced earache at one time or another, and it is especially common in children. Earache is a symptom of various diseases, but usually it is a sign of problems in the external ear canal or middle ear. In young children, it is very often a sign of an ear infection.

Cause of earache?

There can be several different causes of ear pain depending on where the source of the pain is located.

The outer ear:

External ear canal inflammation (otitis externa). Inflammatory reaction that causes skin changes in the ear canal. Often due to eczema or infection (from bacteria or fungi). Chronic skin diseases such as psoriasis or eczema can be predisposing factors. The same applies to moisture and heat, as well as damage to the skin in the ear canal caused by q-tips.

Ear canal pimple (ear canal furuncle). Due to infection in hair follicles. Often the infection is caused by the type of bacteria staphylococci. The condition is most common in adults.

Wax plug (cerumen plug). Wax can block the ear canal, which can cause a local inflammatory reaction. The condition can be triggered by the use of q-tips, which will press the wax together and further into the ear. Those with heavy earwax production, as well as hearing aid users, may be extra susceptible to getting a wax plug.

Foreign body in the ear canal. Small children can put things in the ear that can damage the ear canal and eardrum if you cannot remove it. Fortunately, it will usually be easy to get the object out of the ear.

Eardrum:

Inflammation of the eardrum (bullous myringitis). May be due to a viral infection. The condition often occurs in connection with acute otitis media. Both adults and children can get this.

Shingles in the ear (zoster oticus). Due to shingles affecting nerves in the ear. This happens as a result of a type of virus that lies latent in the body being reactivated.

The Middle East:

Acute otitis media (otitis media). Due to viruses or bacteria. Occurs most often in young children from six months to three years. The condition is most common in the winter months. Often occurs as a result of upper respiratory tract infections. An acute otitis media will usually go away on its own after two days.

Infection in the auricle in the temporal bone (mastoiditis). Rare complication of ear infection. Most common in young children under two years of age.

Narrow ear trumpet (tuba auditoriva).

Pressure damage. Can occur on flights or when diving. It is common to have had a cold before experiencing this, or possibly the person concerned may suffer from a pollen allergy.

Teeth:

Holes in the teeth (caries). Caused by the enamel dissolving little by little due to acid production from plaque on the teeth.

Tooth root inflammation (pulpitis). Can occur as a result of cavities in the teeth that have not been treated.

Dental treatments. Complications of dental treatments can cause ear pain.

Jaw:

Inflammation of the jaw joint.

Osteoarthritis in the jaw joint.

Lymph nodes:

Swollen lymph nodes on the neck. May be a result of acute sore throat. The swollen lymph nodes can put increased pressure on nearby structures, which can cause ear pain.

Tumors:

In or near the ear.

Other places on the body.

Symptoms of earache

• Pain in both or only one ear.

• May also have other symptoms located in the ear, depending on what the cause of the earache is. Examples are itching, impaired hearing and fluid from the ear.

Good advice

• Build up the head of the bed with pillows. May act as a pain reliever.

• Use saline or nasal spray if you have nasal congestion at the same time. May have a symptom-relieving effect.

• Make sure to drink enough fluids.

• Do not put things in your ear, including q-tips.

• Avoid scratching the ear.

• Use earplugs when showering and swimming to prevent moisture if the symptoms are caused by inflammation of the external ear canal.

• If there is a blockage in the ear, you can use ear wax-dissolving preparations that you can buy without a prescription, for example Revaxør or Vaxol.

• For pressure problems in connection with flights, you can try sucking on drops or chewing gum. Children who are too young for chewing gum and drops can be given a drink with a straw instead, breastfed or use a pacifier.

Treatment

Earache is treated based on what the underlying cause is. Some of the conditions that cause ear pain do not need to be treated. Catarrh of the eardrum, pressure injuries and pimples in the ear canal are examples of conditions that do not necessarily require treatment.

Ear infections in children can be treated with over-the-counter medicines that have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. Both preparations containing paracetamol (Paracet, Pinex) and preparations containing ibuprofen (Ibux, Nurofen) will have a good effect against earache. Be careful to follow the recommended dosage stated on the package.