It is one of the common symptom among the children.

Causes of ear pain:

Causes in the ear:

• pinna: Trauma, infection, frost-bite, sun-burn.
• Ear canal: Otitis externa, impacted wax, furuncle or boil, herpes zoster. Otomycosis (fungal infection of ear).
• Middle-ear like acute otitis media, Eustachian tube blockage, glue ear, aero-otitis media. Rupture or perforated ear drum.
• Injury to the ear.
• Pressure changes in ear as in barotrauma following travel in flight.

Causes outside the ear (referred earache):

• Caries tooth, impacted wisdom tooth.
• Temperomandibular joint disorder.
• Oral cavity and tongue-ulcers.
• Nose and sinus infection.
• After adenoid, tonsillectomy surgeries.
• Mumps/parotitis.
• Pharyngitis/tonsillitis.
• Laryngitis.
• Cervical disc lesions.

Signs and symptoms of ear pain:

• Tugging or pulling sensation in the ear.
• Pain while touching the ears.
• Increased pain while swallowing, chewing or blowing the nose.
• Ringing in ears.

When to seek medical help:

• It the pain is associated with fever or ear discharge.
• Excessive crying or inactive in children.
• If there is vomiting or diarrhea.
• If there is any skin rashes.
• If there is any associated blood discharge.
• If there is any dizziness, headache, weakness of facial muscles.

Treatment:

Pain relievers :

• Ear drops.
• Antibiotics if it is associated with infection.
• Steroid ear drop for 5-7 days.

Diagnosis:

• Medical history.
• Ear examination with otoscope.

Prevention:

• Avoid smoking near children which may lead to infections.
• Prevent outer ear infections by avoiding insertion of objects in ear.
• Dry the ear immediately after bathing or swimming.
• Control allergies.
• Close the ears with cotton swab while bathing.
• Avoid using sharp objects in the ear like safety pins.

Home remedy for ear pain:

• If there is pain while lying down, sit down with head held in straight position.
• Chewing like chewing gum help to open up the blocked Eustachian tube and reduces the pain.