An earache is a common presenting complaint at the family doctor's office. Most parents have dealt with a crying or fussy child due to earache. According to Ear, Nose and Throat specialists at St. John Providence Health System, there are five common clinical causes of earaches.
Middle-Ear Infections
Middle-ear infection is a bacterial infection that develops within the fluid behind the eardrum. A study published in "The Journal of Infectious Diseases" in 1989 reported that 83 percent of children had had at least one episode of middle-ear infection by age 3. While preschoolers can express that their "ears hurt," toddlers and infants tend to be fussy and febrile and may also tug at their ears. Middle-ear infections respond to antibiotic treatment within days, so a child with an earache should be taken for a checkup at the doctor's office.
External Ear Infections
Often referred to as "swimmer's ear," an external ear infection is a bacterial ear infection involving the skin of the ear canal. Though swimming is a common cause, it can also be caused by vigorous use of cotton swabs or picking at the ears with sharp fingernails. The patient with an external ear infection will complain of severe pain and may report pus-like drainage from the ear. This condition is also rapidly resolved by using the appropriate prescription antibiotic, usually in liquid drop form.
Earwax Blockage
Earwax is normal buildup inside the ears; it helps protect the ears from infections. However, long-term impaction with copious amounts of wax will cause earaches, as well as reduced hearing ability. Patients often aggravate the problem by using cotton swabs, which jam the earwax deeper into the ear canal. A patient who suspects earwax impaction should see a physician for either an ear lavage or earwax vacuum suction procedure; both methods will resolve the blockage immediately.
Stuffy Ears
Three situations can lead to "stuffy ear" pain. First, "airplane ears" is the pain and blockage someone experiences when he begins the descent phase of an airplane flight; this is caused by a mismatch of air pressure from outside the eardrum versus inside the eardrum. Secondly, sinusitis can cause ear pain because of bacterial fluid accumulation behind the eardrum. Lastly, seasonal allergies can cause stuffy ear pain due to non-bacterial fluid buildup in the middle ear.
Ear Trauma
Trauma to the ears is another possible cause of earaches. This can result from loud noise trauma, such as the ear pain a teenager might feel the morning after attending a rock concert. Direct physical trauma is the other type of ear trauma: boxers, wrestlers and hockey players are prone to such injuries.
