Nasal allergy symptoms resemble a common cold, including nasal congestion, watery mucus and the buildup of pressure in your ears, which leads to earache. While the earache itself may not indicate an infection, if the cause of ear pain is not treated, you may develop an ear infection. When you know about the connection between allergies and earache, you can treat one and prevent the other.
Connection to Earache
Earache develops as a result of fluid behind the eardrum – the middle ear. This area of your ear connects to the Eustachian tube, which helps drain that fluid. Allergies, with their mucus, nasal secretions and congestion, can lead to an earache in one or both ears. If your allergy symptoms are not controlled with either prescription or over-the-counter medication, you may experience a buildup of pressure and fluid behind your eardrums, then develop a sharp or dull pain. If you are an adult, you may not actually be experiencing ear pain – instead, pain from your throat may migrate to your ears.
Pediatric Considerations
If your child has been diagnosed with allergies and he develops an earache in one or both ears with fever and irritability, he may have an ear infection. If he develops severe ear pain and a high fever – 102 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, call your doctor. Additional symptoms to look for include weakness of the facial muscles, severe headache and dizziness. If the pain stops suddenly, his eardrum may have burst. If the infection is caused by bacteria, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics. If it is viral, he won’t prescribe antibiotics, but prescribe other medications to help reduce the mucus in your child’s nasal passages. He also may recommend acetaminophen to relieve pain. Acetaminophen dosages depend on the weight and age of the child. Consult your doctor on dosages for children under age 2, otherwise, follow the medication's instructions.
Self Care
If you have an earache, hold a cold pack to your ear for 20 minutes at a time to help the pain. If your eardrum has not ruptured, your partner can drop one or two drops of prescription ear drops into your ear. Depending on the degree of your pain, an over-the-counter painkiller – ibuprofen or acetaminophen – may help with your pain. Open a stick of gum and chew it; this may help relieve the pressure and some of the pain. If you have not begun treating your allergy symptoms with an over-the-counter antihistamine, start taking one to relieve some of the nasal congestion, stuffiness and runny nose.
Medical Considerations
A doctor's visit involving an earache will focus on your ears, nose, throat and the mastoid, which is the bony area right behind your ears. If he sees redness of the mastoid, he will diagnose a serious ear infection, which requires treatment. As he conducts his exam, he will ask you several questions about your earache – when the pain began; are you experiencing other symptoms; is the pain worse or constant; do you feel pressure in your ears; do you have unusual ear noises – tinnitus – are you experiencing drainage from one or both ears; have you experienced any hearing loss?
Prevention Tips
If you already know you suffer from allergies, stay away from cigarette smoke. Avoid the substances that set your allergies off. Control your allergies with over-the-counter or prescription medications, including a steroidal nasal spray. If you start taking your medications before your allergies begin, you may avoid the buildup of pressure and fluid in your nasal passages and inner ears.
