Ear Ache

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admin
– September 25, 2009Posted in: Ear, ENT

Ear ache is a usual problem which might affect all age group. The adults and children are affected by ear ache. The outer ear is called Otitis externa and the middle ear is called Otitis media. The earache might happen if there is any infection in the middle ear or in the outer ear. The two types of infections which cause ear ache are:

Outer ear infections: Outer ear infections include infections of the outer ear and ear canal. It might happen after swimming for a long time. It is popularly called swimmer’s ear.

Middle Ear Infections: Middle ear infections include middle ear infection and infections in the eardrum. These infections are mostly found in children aged between 6 months and 2 years. It might be seen in children above the age of 3 and in adults.

Causes of Ear Ache
There are two common reasons found for earache. They are moisture and minor injury in the ear canal. middle ear ache is caused common cold or upper respiratory infection.

The primary causes of outer ear ache are:

  • Moisture in the ear canal
  • Swimmer’s ear
  • Injury occurred when cleaning the ear due to carelessness or with some hard objects
  • Breakage of skin which help the bacteria to enter the ear to cause infection

The primary causes of middle ear ache are:

  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Common cold
  • Ear drain
  • Malfunction of Eustachian tube
  • Fluid buildup
  • Smoking
  • Allergies
  • Inheritance of ear infection
  • Deformities of head and neck

    • Ear ache Symptoms
    The primary symptoms of earache of the outer ear are:

    • Severe pain
    • Itchiness in the outer ear
    • Intense pain when outer ear is pulled or touched
    • Loss of hearing
    • Ringing sound in the ear
    • Feeling something filled in the ear
    • Swelling of the ear
    • Thick drain

    Symptoms of middle ear ache are:

    • Pain and plugged sensation in the ear
    • Occasional ear drain
    • Fever
    • Vomiting or diarrhea
    • Loss of appetite
    • Sleeping problems
    • Swelling at the back of the nose

    Treatment for Ear Ache
    Visiting a doctor might be a better option when a person has ear ache.

    Some of the treatment options for outer ear and middle ear are:

    • Using ear drops which contain antibiotics
    • Wait for five minutes after applying ear drops to spread
    • Placing a wick in the ear to hold the medicine properly
    • Taking oral antibiotics
    • Removing wax buildup using a small equipment at the ENT specialist’s clinic
    • Keeping the ears away from water

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