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Ear
Infection Symptom
and
about the causes of ear pain
Ear
infection symptom mostly depends on the cause of the ear pain.
Earache is usually caused by middle
ear or outer
ear canal infection, which have slightly different
symptoms:
- infection
and inflammation of the middle
ear (otitis media) particularly common
in young children with severe,
intense pain in the ear, raised temperature and
hearing loss (may be discharge from the ear canal)
- another usual cause of earache is the
inflammation of the outer
ear canal (otitis
externa or swimmers ear); pain
may be accompanied by irritation,
itching in
the ear canal and sometimes by discharge.
Adults
suffer more frequently from otitis externa and less from otitis media
but the symptoms are nearly the same as in children.
Learn
about safe ear wax removal.
Since ear infection symptom depends mainly on the cause of ear pain it
is useful to have a good overlook about ear problem.
Are you interested
in all the possible causes and symptoms of earache? Have a look at my
summary about
the cause of ear pain.
MIDDLE
EAR
-
Middle ear
(cavity between the eardrum and the inner ear) inflammation is
generally caused by an infection
of bacteria or viruses.
These spread via the Eustachian tubes to infect the middle ear. (The
Eustachian tube links the back of the throat to the middle ear) It
mainly affects young children and is accompanied by fever and intense
pain. Often it accompanies cold, sore throat and cough.
- Less
common
cause for middle ear inflammation are allergies (hay fever
or nutritional allergies).
Learn about home remedies for ear infection
EXTERNAL
(OUTER) EAR
- Inflammation
of outer ear canal is often a result of an infection by bacteria, viruses or
fungus. It is quite common among swimmers as moisture
in the ear can encourage infection (swimmer's
ear). The lining of the
ear canal is very thin and easily damaged
and infected by scratching or cleaning (by cotton bud)
overenthusiastically. Rarely
a herpes simplex
infection (cold sores) or shingles (herpes
zoster) can cause
blisters with persisting pain.
- Dermatological
problems like boil
or neurodermitis
(eczema) of the outer ear may cause pain, itching and
discharging.
- Blockage of
ear wax
can
cause a feeling of blockage, itchiness, mild inflammation and pain,
sometimes hearing loss.
- Injury
Read
about proper ear care.
REFERRED
PAIN (Radiation)
(A
mostly
intermittent earache may hail from a disorder in a nearby structure)
- Dental
problems: teething, tooth decay, caries etc.
- Tonsillitis
- Temporomandibular
joint disorder
- Tumors (e.g. throat cancer)
- Neck
muscle ache
- Trigeminal neuralgia
Learn about
homeopathic remedies for ear problem.
Setting up
the correct diagnosis
is the task of a medical specialist.
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