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Key takeaways
Earaches can be caused by various factors including infections, moisture, earwax buildup, TMJ, and barotrauma, affecting individuals of all ages but are more common in young children.
Treatment for earaches depends on the cause, with options including oral antibiotics for middle ear infections and antibiotic ear drops for swimmer’s ear, among others.
Temporary relief from ear pain can be achieved through warm compresses, over-the-counter pain relievers, steam, resting in an upright position, and chewing gum, especially for pressure-related pain.
It is advised to consult a healthcare provider for an earache that includes symptoms like sudden hearing loss, discharge, high fever, or if the pain worsens or does not improve after a few days.
The ear is small in size but can cause tremendous pain when something isn’t quite right. Ear pain and associated symptoms, such as trouble hearing, can be due to various causes, including an infection, moisture in the ears, or jaw problems. The good news is that there are various effective ways to relieve ear pain.
What is earache?
An earache is exactly what it sounds like—ear pain. While an ear infection can cause ear pain, it can have other causes.
What causes an earache?
Earaches are common—they can happen to individuals of any age. Young children are more likely to experience ear pain than older kids or adults. About 5 out of 6 children have a middle ear infection (also known as acute otitis media) by their third birthday.
While an earache can have many potential causes, some common reasons include:
- Middle ear infection (acute otitis media): The most common type of ear infection, often accompanied by a fever or sore throat, a middle ear infection is an infection in the middle ear. It is often caused by bacteria but may be caused by viral infections.
- Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa): Swimmer’s ear is known as an outer ear infection. A common problem in the summer, swimmer’s ear is a bacterial infection caused by water that remains in the outer ear canal, which provides a moist environment for bacteria.
- Earwax buildup: An earwax buildup can not only affect your hearing, but it can also cause symptoms like ear pain, ringing in the ears, and dizziness.
- TMJ: TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint dysfunction. The temporomandibular joint connects the jaw to the side of the head. Dysfunction can cause pain, stiffness, clicking, and popping—as well as ear pain. Ear pain can also be associated with other dental issues like cavities or infections.
- Barotrauma: This means a change in pressure, which can occur from flying on an airplane at high altitudes or scuba diving. The pressure change can cause ear pain and can even lead to a ruptured eardrum.
What to do for an earache
The treatment is based on the cause of the ear pain.
For example, an individual with a middle ear infection will be prescribed oral antibiotics such as Augmentin tablets or suspension (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid)—although, for a mild infection, the healthcare provider may recommend waiting a few days to see if the immune system can clear the infection on its own, before prescribing an antibiotic.
A patient with swimmer’s ear will generally be prescribed an antibiotic ear drop, such as Cipro HC ear drops which contain an antibiotic and a steroid.
The condition should be evaluated and treated if the patient has an underlying condition or reason that is causing ear pain. For example, if the patient has ear pain due to a dental infection. In that case, they should see their dentist for evaluation and will likely need an oral antibiotic such as penicillin, amoxicillin, or clindamycin. If your doctor prescribes medication, you can always use a free SingleCare card to save up to 80% off the cost of your medicines.
Earache pain relief
It is important to figure out what is causing your ear pain so that you can treat it. While it might take some time to treat an infection or other underlying cause, you can try some of these methods to provide temporary relief.
- Warm compresses: Making a warm compress is a simple yet effective way to relieve ear pain. You can soak a clean washcloth in warm water. Wring out the excess water, fold the washcloth, and place it over the affected ear for up to 15 minutes, several times a day. Be careful not to make the washcloth too hot. Or, if you would rather use a heating pad instead of a warm compress, you can place a warm—not too hot—heating pad over the affected ear for 10-15 minutes.
- OTC pain relievers: Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen) are popular over-the-counter pain medications. Tylenol can help with symptoms of fever and pain. Motrin and Advil are OTC products that contain ibuprofen. They are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and can help with fever, pain, and inflammation. Ask your doctor (or your child’s pediatrician if your child has an earache) or pharmacist for appropriate medication and dosing. Babies under 6 months should only take Tylenol, while infants and children 6 months and older can take Tylenol or ibuprofen. Children should never take aspirin.
- Steam: Steam can help reduce ear pressure and pain, but a warm-mist humidifier can be a burn hazard around children and babies. For children, you can sit in the bathroom with the child on your lap, close the door, and run a hot shower for 10-15 minutes, letting your child relax and safely breathe in the steam from outside the bathtub.
- Sleep or rest in an upright position: When you lay flat, fluids drip down the back of your throat and may leave you feeling worse. When you are sleeping or resting, it is a good idea to prop yourself up with extra pillows.
- Chew gum: Often, a physician will recommend the simple act of chewing gum if ear pain is due to a change in pressure. Chewing gum can help people open up their ears and equalize pressure, relieving pain that is due to a change in pressure.
When to see a doctor for an earache
For individuals with ear tubes (or other eustachian tube problems), at the first sign of ear pain, it is best to consult the healthcare provider immediately.
Sudden hearing loss, whether or not it is accompanied by pain, is a medical emergency and should be evaluated and treated immediately for the best chance of recovering hearing.
In some cases, ear pain may resolve on its own in a few days. However, there are some instances when you should see your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment of earache. Contact your healthcare professional for medical attention if a foreign object is stuck in the ear, if fluid or discharge is coming out of the ear, or if you have a high fever, headache, dizziness, swelling, facial weakness, or other concerning symptoms. Severe ear pain that suddenly stops could be a sign of a ruptured eardrum and should be evaluated. If your symptoms worsen or do not improve in one or two days, consult your healthcare professional.