Ear problems can have various causes, and a medical diagnosis is often necessary. Infections, such as otitis media and swimmer’s ear, can be treated with antibiotics. Serious conditions, such as a ruptured eardrum or mastoiditis, require immediate medical attention. Some ear problems may be related to other conditions, such as dental problems or temporomandibular joint syndrome.
A variety of conditions can cause ear problems. While an infection is often the cause of ear pain, many other circumstances can produce an earache as a symptom. A medical diagnosis is usually needed to determine the exact cause of most ear problems.
Otis media, or middle ear infection, is characterized by pain deep inside the ear and fluid in the ear. Likewise, a pimple that can be seen in the ear canal can be a minor infection. While ear infections can clear up on their own within a week or two, a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and determine whether or not treatment, such as the use of antibiotics, is needed. If necessary, he can also prescribe pain medication.
Serious ear problems should be examined by a doctor. If one ear, as well as the area around it, is red and swollen, there could be a serious infection. Another urgent condition that requires immediate medical attention is a ruptured eardrum, which involves very sharp and sudden pain followed by thick, pus-filled or bloody drainage leaking out of the ear canal. Mastoiditis, an infection of the bone behind the ear, can present as a headache and redness, or tenderness, behind the ear. Alternatively, this could also mean a swollen lymph node; both cases require medical attention.
Other ear problems can be benign. For example, during or after a flight, barotrauma or “popping” in the ears can result from changes in altitude or pressure. Barotrauma typically fades quickly; however, if the pain is severe or lasts for hours, you may need a doctor’s visit for treatment. Otitis externa, or “swimmer’s ear,” is an infection that is usually easily treated. Swimmer’s ear often involves a swollen ear that itches or hurts when pulled.
Some ear problems may seem entirely related to the ear when, in fact, they are symptoms of another condition. If ear pain occurs while biting and coincides with tooth pain, it may be a dental problem that requires dental treatment. Ear pain during jaw breaking, or in combination with jaw tenderness, can be a symptom of temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), which is actually a jaw joint disorder. Severe pain, or lack of improvement within two weeks, warrants a visit to the doctor or dentist. Fluid, pressure, and a choking sensation that can’t be cleared by coughing or swallowing, combined with cold symptoms, can actually be a blocked Eustachian tube, which may go away on its own or needs to be checked by a doctor if it persists for days.
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