Deeper ear pain can be related to an infection, a blockage, or a ruptured ear drum.
How ear pain feels (aching, sharp, dull, etc.
Treatment may include ear drops, oral medications, and at-home treatments to ease the pain.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
This article discusses ear pain.
It explains the different causes of ear pain and how ear pain is treated.
The following conditions can cause primary ear pain.
Sometimes, a fever may occur.
Another common culprit behind external otitis involves the frequent use of cotton swabs.
The infection can become quite severe and require hospitalization.
Perichondritis is most likely in people with certain autoimmune conditions, such asgranulomatosis with polyangiitis.
Cartilage piercings carry an increased risk of perichondritis due to infection.
In other words, there is fluid buildup without tissue inflammation.
Perforated Eardrum
A perforated eardrum is a hole, or tear, in the eardrum.
It is also commonly associated with middle ear infections (otitis media).
There are three related conditions:
Cellulitis or Perichondritis?
Cellulitis and perichondritis are both infections that can affect the outer ear.
Usually, the pain is worsened by hot or cold stimuli or biting or eating.
Headaches and tenderness around the ear canal are also common.
Vision changes and pain with chewing may also be present.
A mastoid bone infection (mastoiditis) causes pain, redness, and swelling behind the ear.
Imaging and blood tests are less commonly needed.
Treatment
As there are many different causes of ear pain, there are similarly many possible treatments.
The treatment of choice will specifically depend on the root cause of your ear pain.
Likewise, ear drops are the primary treatment for external otitis.
There are many different types of ear drops available, including antibiotics, acidifying solutions, and steroids.
Many of these ear drops work in combination to reduce inflammation, treat the infection, and ease pain.
A small hole is made in your eardrum to ease pressure and let the fluid drain.
Prescription medications and ear drops may be needed to clear up ear infections.
Severe infections, like perichondritis, may require hospitalization.
In some cases, surgery may be needed to treat the cause of ear pain.
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