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Ear pain is one of the most common conditions in both children and adults. It can be very uncomfortable, cause a fever, and make normal life impossible. It is one of the most common ailments especially in the summer months, due to exposure to swimming pools, the use of chlorine for cleaning them.

Causes 

The most common cause of ear pain - also called otalgia - is usually infections (otitis), which are classified according to where they are located: 

Otitis externa

They affect the ear canal/aural pavilion, and are caused by external germs. This type of infection usually does not pass into the eardrums. It is sometimes called "Swimmer's Ear" because, as mentioned above, it is common in swimming pools in the summer months, and is caused by the bacteria Pseudomona.

They are usually common in summer as humidity favours the normal flora of the ear canal to cause infection.

Otitis medias

They are more typical of the autumn and winter months and concern the area behind the tympanic membrane (tympanic box). Sometimes they are a complication of other diseases such as influenza, or colds, which cause the accumulation of mucus and bacteria in the Eustachian tube (the tunnel that connects the nose with the ear), which if not eliminated can cause otitis and this is very annoying and accompanied by fever.

If too much mucus accumulates, the pressure will increase, and the eardrum may be torn, the mucus comes out and we would then be talking about perforated or suppurated otitis media.

How to remove ear pain?

In order to treat ear pain, the cause must first be detected. Once it has been determined, the specialist will prescribe the appropriate treatment.

In cases of otitis externa, usually does not worsen and in a week or ten days of treatment is cured, usually with analgesics and antibiotic ear drops, always emphasizing the need not to submerge the head in water during the days of treatment. 

However, prevention is always the simplest way to avoid conditions: 

  • Maintain a good cleaning (without using swabs) of the ear. Always insist on leaving the area dry so that bacteria do not proliferate.

  • Regarding the use of earplugs there is considerable controversy as some experts recommend them and others do not. 

  • Some specialists recommend that after the bath, a 2% acetic acid preparation be applied to the ear canal, as acidification of the skin of the ear canal may be beneficial in preventing otitis.

Otitis media can worsen if not treated early. With analgesics and oral antibiotics, it usually improves, but it is more important than ever to be evaluated by a specialist.

What to take for earache?

Under no circumstances is self-medication recommended. At Claso we insist on the importance of going to the specialist otolaryngologist so that he can make the diagnosis and guide a treatment.

Ear pain in children

Ear pain is the third cause of consultation in pediatrics, after the cold and periodic health check. As in adults, the most common cause is inflammation and infection of the ear canal. It should be treated in the same way, always bearing in mind that the doses of medication will be different. We insist that diagnosis by a paediatrician is essential.