Ear pain is a common condition that we are all likely to experience at some point of time in our lives. Ear ache tends to affect young kids more because of their ear canal which is straight in shape. Apollo Clinic has set up a speciality clinic for Ear Pain with the objective of being readily available to provide prompt and affordable care.
What is Ear Pain?
Ear pain or ache is a dull, sharp or burning pain that may be constant or fluctuating. It may affect one or both ears, usually only one ear.
What causes Ear Pain?
Some common causes of ear pain are:
- Ear infection
- Earwax build up
- Strep throat
- Shampoo or water trapped in the ear
- Change in air pressure levels
- A foreign object in the ear
- Sinus infection
- Use of cotton swabs in the ear
- Of these, middle ear infection and earwax are the most common causes of ear pain.
What are the symptoms of Ear Pain?
Our ENT specialists advise on some signs of middle ear infection and earwax build-up to watch out for. These include:
Middle ear infection – Ear pain, irritability, difficulty sleeping, fever, discharge from the ears, loss of balance, problems in hearing, nausea, diarrhoea, decreased appetite, congestion, loss of balance
Earwax build-up – Sudden or partial hearing loss that is temporary, a ringing or buzzing in the ear, feeling that the ear is full, ear pain
How can we help you?
The first step would be a detailed discussion regarding your medical history. Next, a physical exam is conducted wherein your doctor will use an otoscope (a lighted instrument) to look at the eardrum and outer ear to check for signs of swelling, pus and fluid.
Your doctor may also conduct a test to check whether your middle ear is functioning properly. A device will be placed inside your ear canal, and the pressure would be changed making your eardrum vibrate. The results are recorded on a graph which will then be interpreted by your doctor.
Depending on the diagnosis and test results, your doctor will prescribe appropriate ear pain treatment. Middle ear infection treatments include medication to reduce fever and suffering or antibiotics. Earwax removal is done using a curette (a small curved instrument), irrigation or suction.
TEATREE Healthcare Support
TEATREE Healthcare’s Specialty Clinic for Ear Pain leads in providing comprehensive therapeutic and diagnostic facilities. Our multi-disciplinary team has extensive experience in treating ear pain in children and adults of all ages.
