Ear pain, which may be in one ear or both, can feel sharp, dull or burning. Ear pain may be caused by a condition of the ear, such as an infection, or it may be due to deferred pain secondary to a condition affecting another part of the body. Fauquier Ear Nose and Throat Consultants of Virginia report that approximately 40 percent of patients who complain of ear pain have a non-ear issue causing the pain. This occurs because there are a number of nerves in the head and neck region that connect to the nerves of the ear.
Middle Ear Infection
An ear infection, also known as otitis media, is a bacterial infection of the middle ear. Ear infections are the most common childhood illness, according to doctors at the Mayo Clinic, who report that three of every four children will experience an ear infection by the time they are 3 years old.
Ear infections are often caused by viral infections such as the common cold or flu. The inflammation of the sinus cavities, throat and tonsils can spread through the eustacian tubes, which connect the throat to the middle ear. The inflammation causes fluid to build up and allows bacteria to thrive. Ear infections cause ear pain and short-term hearing loss. The pressure caused by the fluid can also cause the eardrum to rupture, which can intensify the pain.
Swimmer's Ear
Swimmer's ear, known as otitis externa, is an infection of the ear canal, or outer part of the ear. Swimmer's ear occurs when bacteria infect the skin lining the ear canal. The ear canal is usually protected from environmental bacteria by the presence of a waxy substance known as cerumen, and by the shape of the ear, which slopes down to encourage drainage. Excess moisture can break down these defenses and allow bacteria to take hold. Swimmer's ear causes itching, redness, ear pressure and ear pain.
TMJ
Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder, often referred to as TMJ, is a group of conditions that cause pain in the jaw and surrounding areas. The TMJ Association reports that 35 million people in the United States suffer from TMJ. The pain caused by TMJ is usually described as a dull pain and may be accompanied by jaw stiffness,a popping sound in the jaw, limited jaw motion, chronic headaches, ringing in the ears and ear pain.
TMJ causes pain that can be felt in the front portion of the ear due to the cranial nerve 5, also known as the auriculotemporal nerve, which runs from the mandible (jaw) and along the side of the head. The nerve branches off to the auricle, which is the outer portion of the ear.
Tonsillitis
The tonsils, two masses of tissue found at the back of the throat, function to protect the body from harmful bacteria and viruses. Tonsillitis is an infection in the small pockets of the tonsils that can cause throat pain and swelling.
The tympanic nerve, also known as Jacobson's nerve, branches from the eardrum to the glossopharyngeal nerve, which leads to the nose and throat. The pain caused by tonsillitis can run through these nerves to be felt deep inside the ear, as described by the doctors at Fauquier Ear Nose and Throat Consultants of Virginia.
