Relieve Ear Pain: What Symptoms, Causes, Treatment?

2023 Author: Lynn Laird | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:49

Each pain is different because of its intensity, frequency and degree of supportability. Earache ranks among the unbearable and the most acute. So how to relieve ear pain is something everyone should get in urgent cases. To prevent and avoid painful moments, have in order to protect your head and your ears with a winter cap which will act as a shield against the cold. Our article will discuss the causes and treatment methods to help you if you are in pain.

When to relieve ear pain? - symptoms

In general, earaches occur in children, but they can also affect adults. Either in one or both ears, the pain may be constant or sporadic, dull, sharp, piercing, or burning. If you have an ear infection, a fever and temporary hearing loss may occur.

Babies and toddlers with ear infections may be irritable and whine, pulling or rubbing their ears. So, to calm the baby's crying, observe his behavior. Earaches can develop as a result of infections or injuries to the ear. Symptoms in adults include:

• ear pain
• hearing impairment
• fluid drainage from the ear

In children, additional symptoms have been seen, such as:

• ear pain
• muffled hearing or difficulty responding to sounds
• fever
• feeling of fullness in the ear
• headache
• difficulty sleeping
• stretching of the affected ear
• unusual crying or irritation
• loss of appetite
• loss of equilibrium

What are the common causes of earaches?

Injury, infection, ear irritation, or referred pain can cause earaches. Referred pain is pain that is felt elsewhere than at the site of infection or injury. For example, pain that comes from the jaw or teeth can be felt in the ear. Causes of earaches can include ear infections (otitis) which can occur in the outer, middle, and inner ear.

In a nutshell, there are two groups of ear pains: those that are due to mechanical activity and those that arise from infections. Outer ear infection can be caused by swimming, wearing a hearing aid or headphones that damage the skin inside the ear canal, or using cotton swabs. Skin in the ear canal that is scratched or irritated can lead to infection. Water softens the affected area, which can create a breeding ground for bacteria.

As for the middle ear infection, it can be caused by respiratory tract infections. The buildup of fluid behind the eardrums caused by these infections can harbor bacteria.

During an airplane flight, due to the change in pressure, you experience pain in both ears. The accumulated earwax can cause discomfort and temporary hearing loss.

There are cases when a small child pushes a foreign object inside the ear and then it is necessary to seek medical attention.

Other causes for ear pain are: strep throat, sinus infection, temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), perforated eardrum, arthritis affecting the jaw, an infected tooth, trigeminal neuralgia (chronic pain of the facial nerve).

How to treat earaches at home?

There are several things you can do at home to reduce earache.

• Apply a cold washcloth to the ear
• Avoid getting the ear wet
• Sit up straight to help relieve hearing pressure.
• Use over-the-counter ear drops
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers.
• Chew gum to help relieve pressure

In case you feel that your ear is full of water, the first thing to do is to shake your head, tilt it towards your shoulder and gently pull the ear out. The water should flow out and free the ear canal.

Another method of removing liquid is to create a vacuum that can suck up the water. Tilt your head to the side and rest your ear on your cupped palm, creating a tight seal.

Gently push your hand back and forth towards your ear in a quick motion, flattening it when you push it and cupping it as you move away. Tilt your head to allow the water to drain.

It is possible to use a hairdryer, the heat of which can evaporate water inside the ear canal. Turn the device on to its lowest setting and hold it about 12 inches from your ear. Move it back and forth, letting warm air blow into your ear.

Using alcohol and vinegar to make ear drops

Mix equal parts alcohol and vinegar. Using a sterile dropper, apply three or four drops of this mixture into your ear. Gently rub the outside and after waiting 30 seconds, tilt your head to the side to let the solution drain.

This method is not recommended if you have an outer ear infection, a perforated eardrum, tympanostomy tubes (eardrum tubes).

Olive oil is also effective if you heat it slightly in a small bowl and then place a few drops of it in the affected ear. Lie on the other side for about 10 minutes, then sit up and tilt your ear down. Water and oil should flow out. It is necessary to know the synergies of essential oils well to be able to benefit from them in case of ear pain.

Medical treatment for ear pain relief

If you have an ear infection, your doctor will prescribe oral antibiotics or ear drops. In some cases, the two together. Do not stop taking the medicine once your symptoms have improved. It is important that you finish your entire prescription to make sure the infection goes away completely.