Earache can be primary, caused by problems in the inner or outer ear, or referred, caused by issues elsewhere in the body. Common causes include middle ear infections, swimmer’s ear, trauma, and growths in the ear. It is important to see a doctor to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
Earache is better known to most people as an earache. This is a broad term for any type of earache due to almost any cause and is usually classified into two groups according to the types of causes. If a person has primary ear pain, they have pain that is directly caused by part of the inner or outer ear. Other people have a more complicated condition called referred ear pain, and in these cases they may have ear pain with no apparent ear dysfunction. Earache is referred to or caused by somewhere else in the body.
A common cause of primary ear pain is middle ear infections or otitis media. This is a buildup of fluid that causes pressure on the eardrum. More common in younger children, it can still occur in adults and be very uncomfortable.
Infections outside the ear, such as swimmer’s ear, also cause earache. Any trauma to the ear or things like a burst eardrum can cause severe ear pain. Sometimes growths in the ear, such as tumors or abnormal bone growth, can produce significant ear discomfort.
Catching the culprit causing the reported ear pain isn’t always that easy, although sometimes the source is quite obvious. People with a lot of congestion from conditions such as sinus infections occasionally get earache, even when their ears seem healthy and without infection. Another of the most obvious indicators of referred or secondary ear pain is any illness or trauma that has resulted in a sore throat. The removal of the tonsils could create earaches for a few days and diseases such as mononucleosis, due to a severe sore throat, can make the ears ache.
For the lay physician trying to decide whether earache is secondary or primary, it’s a good idea not to guess. Especially when someone has evidence of other illnesses such as nasal congestion or sore throat, it makes sense to see a doctor to rule out the primary causes. Many inner and outer ear infections come with other symptoms such as a sore throat or stuffy nose, and it’s not always possible to tell if an ear infection is present.
What can be very confusing is if a person is not sick and has developed what appears to be ear pain. There are a few things that doctors might investigate as potential causes. Sometimes ear pain comes from pain in the teeth or jaw. Those who have dental issues or conditions such as temporomandibular joint disorder may be at risk for earaches.
Occasionally the nerves in the neck are compressed. They become inflamed and this is felt in the ears. Any part of the body that contains nerves that feed sensation in the ear could be investigated as potentially causing earache.
Usually, the cause of earache is simple, but if the pain is chronic and not from an obvious source, doctors may need to spend some time figuring out the source of the pain. It’s hard to say exactly what treatment will be undertaken or recommended for referred earache. This can be highly individualized.
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