Ear pain is a common condition and can be experienced by anyone, including children. This condition is usually harmless and can be caused by a variety of things, from infection to injury.
Ear anatomy consists of three main parts, namely the outer, middle, and inner. All of these sections have their respective roles so that you can hear well.
Not only for hearing, the inner ear also plays a role in regulating body balance. Therefore, disturbances in one part of the ear can cause hearing or body balance to be disturbed.
Various Causes of Earache
If you experience ear pain or hearing loss, there are several conditions that can be the cause, namely:
1. Ear infection
Ear infections usually occur in the middle ear. The infection is caused by a blockage or swelling in the eustachian tube, causing fluid to build up in the middle ear.
The blockage can be caused by a cold, allergies, smoking, sinus infections, or excessive mucus production. This disorder is more common in children.
Symptoms of an ear infection are characterized by reduced hearing ability, pain in the inner ear, and discharge from the ear that resembles pus.
Although a mild ear infection can go away on its own, you can relieve symptoms in the following ways:
- Taking pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, to treat ear pain that appears
- Using ear drops to relieve inflammation
- Give a warm compress on the infected ear
You are advised to have your ear checked by a doctor, if the earache does not subside or if there are signs of a more severe infection, such as fever, headache, and dizziness. The doctor will give antibiotics to cure the ear infection.
2. Tinnitus
Tinnitus is characterized by a ringing sound inside the ear and not coming from outside the body. This condition can occur due to increasing age, frequent loud noises, ear infections, head or neck injuries, and the consumption of certain medications.
Treatment for tinnitus is generally done by diagnosing the cause. Once the cause is known, treatment will be tailored to the condition underlying the tinnitus.
There are several ways to treat tinnitus, including:
- Avoid loud noises
- Remove earwax to reduce tinnitus symptoms
- Using hearing aids
- Taking drugs or surgery, if caused by disorders of the blood vessels
- Changing the drugs used or consumed, if the tinnitus is caused by a side effect of certain drugs
3. Meniere's disease
This condition, which usually occurs in one ear, is caused by an imbalance of fluid in the inner ear. Sudden dizziness or vertigo and tinnitus are the two main symptoms of Meniere's disease.
This disease is more common in adults and middle age. Meniere's disease can be treated by taking medications to treat vertigo, injections into the middle ear, or surgery.
4. Ear barotrauma
Ear barotrauma is an ear injury due to changes in air or water pressure when a person climbs mountains, travels by plane, or dives at certain depths.
The main symptoms of ear barotrauma are hearing loss, ear pain, and dizziness. This earache can be treated by chewing gum, yawning, or taking decongestant medications.
In some cases, ear pain can cause hearing loss. Given the vulnerability of the ears to the above disorders, it's a good idea to maintain ear health in the following ways:
- Keep your ears away from high volume sound exposure for a long time.
- Avoid being near loudspeakers.
- Avoid cleaning the inner ear with cotton bud or other things.
Immediately consult a doctor as soon as you feel hearing loss or ear pain. If not treated immediately, ear disorders will be more difficult to treat and it is feared that they can be permanent.