What is an earache? Show Earaches usually occur in children, but they can occur in adults as well. An earache may affect one or both ears, but the majority of the time it’s in one ear. It may be constant or come and go, and the pain may be dull, sharp, or burning. If you have an ear infection, fever and temporary hearing loss may occur. Young children who have ear infections tend to be fussy and irritable. They may also tug or rub their ears. Read on for other symptoms, causes, treatments, and more. Earaches can develop from ear infections or injury. Symptoms in adults include:
Children can typically show additional symptoms, such as:
Injury, infection, irritation in the ear, or referred pain may cause earaches. Referred pain is pain felt somewhere other than the infection or injured site. For example, pain that originates in the jaw or teeth may be felt in the ear. Causes of earaches can include: Ear infectionsEar infections are a common cause of earaches or ear pain. Ear infections can occur in the outer, middle, and inner ear. Outer ear infection can be caused by swimming, wearing hearing aids or headphones that damage the skin inside the ear canal, or putting cotton swabs or fingers in the ear canal. Skin in the ear canal that gets scratched or irritated can lead to infection. Water softens the skin in the ear canal, which can create a breeding ground for bacteria. Middle ear infection can be caused by infections that stem from a respiratory tract infection. Fluid buildup behind the ear drums caused by these infections can breed bacteria. Labyrinthitis is an inner ear disorder that’s sometimes caused by viral or bacterial infections from respiratory illnesses. Other common causes of earaches
Less common causes of earaches
You can take several steps at home to reduce earache pain. Try these options to ease the ear pain:
If you have an ear infection, your doctor will prescribe oral antibiotics or eardrops. In some cases, they’ll prescribe both. Don’t stop taking the medication once your symptoms improve. It’s important that you finish your entire prescription to ensure that the infection will clear up completely. If a buildup of wax is causing your ear pain, you may be given wax-softening eardrops. They may cause the wax to fall out on its own. Your doctor may also flush out the wax using a process called ear lavage, or they may use a suction device to remove the wax. Your doctor will treat TMJ, sinus infections, and other causes of earaches directly to improve your ear pain. If you or your child has a persistent fever of 104ºF (40 ºC) or higher, seek medical attention. For an infant, seek medical help immediately for a fever higher than 101ºF (38ºC). The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you don’t already have a doctor. You should also seek immediate medical attention if you have severe pain that stops suddenly. This could be a sign of the eardrum rupturing. You should also watch for other symptoms. If any of the following symptoms appear, make an appointment with your doctor:
You should also make an appointment with your doctor if an earache gets worse or doesn’t improve in 24 to 48 hours. You can book an appointment with a primary care doctor in your area using our Healthline FindCare tool. Some earaches may be preventable. Try these preventive measures:
Avoid allergy triggers, such as dust and pollen. Read this article in Spanish. How do you know if ear pain is serious?Seek emergency care if you have any of the following symptoms:. Pain in an ear with or without fever.. Itching of the ear or ear canal.. Loss of hearing or difficulty hearing in one or both ears.. Pus or discharge from an ear, especially if it's thick, yellow, bloody, or foul-smelling.. Why does it hurt when I press on my ear?If your ear hurts when you pull on your earlobe or push on the tiny flap that closes it, you probably have this outer ear infection. You get it when water trapped in your ear canal begins to breed germs. Your ear might get red, swollen, or itch and leak pus. It isn't contagious.
Why is the outside of my ear tender to touch?Outer ear pain can most commonly be caused by environmental conditions such as water exposure or extreme cold weather that can lead to frostbite of the outer ear. Other causes for ear tragus pain include irritation from obtrusive objects like cotton swabs or fingers.
What to do if your ear hurts when you touch it?Try these options to ease the ear pain:. Apply a cold washcloth to the ear.. Avoid getting the ear wet.. Sit upright to help relieve ear pressure.. Use over-the-counter (OTC) ear drops.. Take OTC pain relievers.. Chew gum to help relieve pressure.. Feed an infant to help them relieve their pressure.. |
Why does my ear hurt when i touch it
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