Ear problems are often caused by an infection. However, other conditions may also cause ear pain or discomfort. Follow this chart for more information about ear problems.
The most common causes of this are infection. The ear is made up of three separate parts each performing a different function. At other times the pain may feel as though it is coming from the ear but in fact may be coming from a different part of the body such as the neck or throat which are served by the same nerves as the ear.
Ear pain can cause headache pain at the same time. You must make sure that you take care of the earache pain because it can affect the hearing if not treated. Here are some suggestions and tips that will help provide quick and fast ear ache pain relief.
Common Conditions
Ear pain and stuffiness: Ear pain is often caused by a buildup of fluid and pressure in the middle ear, specifically the portion of the ear behind the eardrum. This stagnant fluid becomes a breeding place for a bacterial infection, which often results in pain and fever.
Ear barotraumas: This is a condition of discomfort in the ear caused by pressure differences between the inside and the outside of the eardrum. This condition normally occurs with extreme altitude changes, such as with flying or driving in the mountains.
What are the symptoms?
Even though ear tugging is one of the most common reasons that children are brought to the doctor, ear tugging is not a specific symptom of an ear infection. Young children like to tug on ears. They might tug more if there is fluid in the ear or if the ear feels funny. Nevertheless, careful research has verified that ear tugging by no means occurs exclusively in children with AOM.
Treatment
Home treatment may be all that is needed to relieve minor or intermittent ear discomfort.
1. To ease ear pain, apply a warm washcloth or a heating pad set on low. There may be some drainage from the ear when the heat melts earwax. Do not use a heating pad when you are in bed; you may fall asleep and burn yourself. Do not use a heating pad on a child.
2. Your child’s ear pain and fever should go away within two to three days of their onset. If your child’s condition doesn’t improve within 2 days, call your pediatrician. Your pediatrician may wish to see your child and may prescribe an antibiotic, if one wasn’t given initially. If an antibiotic was already started, your child may need a different antibiotic. Be sure to follow your pediatrician’s instructions closely.
3. The most suitable treatment measure can be applied, too. It’s all about precaution and care and consulting those who are most knowledgeable when it comes to ailments and diseases. One can then be spared from a whole lot of discomfort, health havoc and trouble.
4. Treatment for ear pain depends on the cause. For bacterial infections, antibiotics are often prescribed along with pain relievers. For more serious problems, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) physician may need to be consulted. At times, procedures such as surgery or injections are needed.
