What Causes Earaches
Their severity ranges from a feeling of fullness or blockage to deep
, boring pain. At times, it may be difficult to determine the precise location of the earache. Earaches can be intermittent or continuous and may develop suddenly or gradually.
MEDICAL CAUSES
Abscess (extradural). Severe earache accompanied by a persistent ipsilateral headache, malaise, and recurrent mild fever characterizes this serious complication of middle ear infection.
Barotrauma (acute). Earache associated with baro trauma ranges from mild pressure to severe pain. Tympanic membrane ecchymosis or bleeding into the tympanic cavity may occur, producing a blue drumhead; the eardrum usually isn't perforated.
Cerumen impaction. Impacted cerumen (earwax) may cause a sensation of blockage or fullness in the ear. Additional features include partial hearing loss, itching and, possibly, dizziness.
Ear canal obstruction by an insect. An insect lodged in the ear canal may cause severe pain and distressing noise.
Frostbite. Prolonged exposure to cold may cause burning or tingling pain in the ear, followed by numbness. The ear appears mottled and gray or white; it turns purplish blue as it's warmed.
Furunculosis. Infected hair follicles in the outer ear canal may produce severe, localized ear pain associated with a pus-filled furuncle (boil). The pain is aggravated by jaw movement and relieved by rupture or incision of the furuncle. Pinna tenderness, swelling of the auditory meatus, partial hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the ear canal may also occur.
Herpes zoster oticus (Ramsay Hunt syndrome). Herpes zoster oticus causes burning or stabbing ear pain that's commonly associated with ear vesicles. The patient also complains of hearing loss and vertigo. Associated signs and symptoms include transient ipsilateral facial paralysis, partial loss of taste, tongue vesicles, and nausea and vomiting.
Mastoiditis (acute). Mastoiditis causes a dull ache behind the ear accompanied by low-grade fever (99 F to 100 F [37.2 C to 37.8 C]). The eardrum appears dull and edematous and may perforate, and soft tissue near the eardrum may sag. A purulent discharge is seen in the external canal.
Meneires disease. Meneries disease is an inner ear disorder that can produce a sensation of fullness in the affected ear. Its classic effects, however, include severe vertigo, tinnitus, and sensori neural hearing loss. The patient may also experience nausea and vomiting, diaphoresis, and nystagmus.
Middle ear tumor. Deep, boring ear pain and facial paralysis are late signs of a malignant tumor.
Myringitis bullosa. Myringitis bullosa is a rare bacterial infection that causes sudden, severe ear pain that radiates over the mastoid and lasts for up to 48 hours. Small serous or blood-filled vesicles may dot the reddened tympanic membrane. Transient hearing loss and a serosanguineous discharge may also occur.
Otitis externa. Earache characterizes both acute and malignant otitis externa.
Acute otitis externa begins with mild to moderate ear pain that occurs with tragus manipulation. The pain may be accompanied by low-grade fever, sticky yellow or purulent ear discharge, partial hearing loss, and a feeling of blockage. Later, ear pain intensifies, causing the entire side of the head to ache and throb. Fever may reach 104 F.
Examination reveals swelling of the tragus, external meatus, and external canal; eardrum erythema; and lymphadenopathy. The patient also complains of dizziness and malaise.
Malignant otitis externa causes sudden ear pain that's aggravated by moving the auricle or tragus. The pain is accompanied by intense itching, purulent ear discharge, fever, parotid gland swelling, and trismus. Examination reveals a swollen external canal with exposed cartilage and temporal bone. Cranial nerve palsy may occur.
Otitis media (acute). Otitis media is a middle ear inflammation that can be serous or suppurative. Acute serous otitis media may cause a feeling of fullness in the ear, hearing loss, and a vague sensation
Perichondritis. Perichondritis can cause ear pain accompanied by warmth and tenderness in the outer ear and a reddened, doughlike auricle.
Petrositis. The result of acute otitis media, this infection produces deep ear pain with headache and pain behind the eye. Other findings are diplopia, loss of lateral gaze, vomiting, sensorineural hearing loss, vertigo and, possibly, nuchal rigidity.
Temporomandibular joint infection. Typically unilateral, temporomandibular joint infection produces ear pain that's referred from the jaw joint. The pain is aggravated by pressure on the joint with jaw movement; it commonly radiates to the temporal area or the entire side of the head.
Investigations:
Complete ear examination
Neurological examination
Otoscopy
by: Gen Wright
Tissues and their issues Exposing Muscle Max - Discover more information regarding the remarkable muscle tissue building product Xtreme Pip Poacher Review Approaches to Motivate the Older Many years to Turn out to be Eco Conscious by Creating Modest Adjustments Just What Does L2 Cache Do? Acheter Manteau, Le Choix Moncler Excellent free tool for coaching has relaunched... (blackswan Character Analysis tool, an MBTI Step I equivalent) Useful Secrets for Stopping Migraine Headache Pain How Are Hair Replacement Systems Attached? What Are Continuous Descent Approaches? Can You Really Build Muscle Mass Fast? Bring in White Beach Sand if Your Beaches Suffer from Erosion Pre workout supplements - How To Build Muscles faster