Ear Pain
Alternate Names : Earache, Otalgia
Ear pain is any pain that occurs in any part of the inner, middle, or outer ear. This pain can be by itself or associated with other symptoms.
What is going on in the body?
Ear pain can range from mild discomfort or a feeling of fullness to
severe, intense pain. Often ear pain results from conditions of the outer or
middle ear. Ear pain usually results from conditions that may be caused by
infection, trauma, or blockage of the ear.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
There are many possible causes of ear pain, including:
trauma to the ear, including damage caused by use of cotton swabs
sudden changes in pressure,
such as changes in altitude when flying
blockage of the ear canal
from earwax or foreign object
otitis externa, or swimmer's
ear
acute otitis media, or an
infection of the inner ear
mastoiditis, which is a
serious bacterial infection of the bone behind the ear
allergic reactions and
allergies
ruptured eardrum
acute sinusitis or chronic sinusitis
tooth abscess
sore throat with referred pain to the ears
Meniere's disease, which is
a disorder of the inner ear
tumors of the ear, which may be cancerous or benign
temporomandibular joint
syndrome
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