Earaches can be slight or very painful. They are a sign that something is wrong. The most common cause of earaches is plugged eustachian tubes. These tubes go from the back of the throat to your middle ear. When eustachian tubes get blocked, fluid gathers, causing pain. Things that make this happen include infections of the middle ear, colds, sinus infections and allergies. Other things that can cause ear pain include changes in air pressure in a plane, something stuck in the ear, too much ear wax, tooth problems and ear injuries.
Very bad ear pain should be treated by a doctor. Treatment will depend on its cause. Most often this includes pain relievers, antibiotics (if infection is involved), methods to dry up or clear the blocked ear canal and whatever else is necessary to treat the source of the pain. You can, however, use Self-Care Procedures if ear pain is slight and produces no other symptoms. One example is with a mild case of quot;swimmer’s ear,” which affects the outer ear.
Prevention:
Much can be done to prevent earaches. Heed the old saying “Never put anything smaller than your elbow into your ear.” This includes cotton-tipped swabs, bobby pins, your fingers, etc. Doing so could damage your eardrum. When you blow your nose, do so gently, one nostril at a time. Don’t smoke. Smoking and secondhand smoke can increase the risk of infection for you and persons around you, especially if they are prone to ear infections.
| Questions to Ask… | YES | NO |
| With the earache do you also have a Stiff neck, Fever, Drowsiness, Nausea or Vomiting | Seek emergency care | Go to next question |
| Did the pain start after a blow to the ear or recent head trauma | Seek emergency care | Go to next question |
| Are any of these things present in an infant or small child especially following an upper respiratory infection, a cold, air travel or in a child with a history of ear problems: Constant pulling, touching or tugging at one or both ears, Fever, Constant crying despite being comforted, Ear or ears that are hot and sensitive to the touch, Unresponsiveness to loud noises, a bell or to the sound of your voice, Irritability and sleeplessness especially at night or when lying down. |
See a Doctor | Go to next question |
| With the earache, do you also have hearing loss, ringing in the ears, dizziness or nausea | See a Doctor | Go to next question |
| Are there signs of infection such as Fever (especially 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), Sticky, green or bloody discharge, Severe ear pain and/or increased pain when wiggling the earlobe. | See a Doctor | Go to next question |
| Is the earache persistent, more than mild, and does it occur after: A mild ear injury, Hard or repeated nose blowings, Sticking an object of any kind in the ear, A cold, or sinus or upper respiratory infection, Swimming, and is extremely painful when the earlobe is wiggled or touched, Exposure to extremely loud noises (e.g., rock concerts, heavy machinery). |
See a Doctor | Go to next question |
| Has a small object or insect entered the ear that cannot be easily or safely removed. | See a Doctor | Go to next question |
| Does the earache occur with jaw pain, headache or a clicking sound when opening and closing the mouth? | Call a Doctor | Provide Self-Care |
Self-Care Procedures: To reduce pain:
To open up the eustachian tubes and help them drain:
Treat Swimmer’s Ear The goal is to clean and dry the ear’s outer canal without doing further damage to the top layer of skin.
To avoid getting Swimmer’s Ear:
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