Ear pain can be caused by various health problems, one of which is an ear infection. Ear pain can also be a sign of inflammation or a buildup of fluid in one part of the ear. Below are some conditions that can cause ear pain or feel uncomfortable.
Anatomy of the ear consists of three main parts, namely the middle, outer, and inner. All of these parts have their respective roles to make you hear well. The inner ear also plays a role in regulating body balance. Disturbances in one part of the ear can make hearing impaired. If there is interference in the inner ear, balance disorders or vertigo can also occur.
If you experience hearing loss or pain in the ear, you may experience one of the following conditions.
Ear infection
Infection of the ear usually occurs in the middle ear. Middle ear infection occurs when the Eustachian tube is blocked or swollen, causing a buildup of fluid in the middle ear. This blockage can be caused by colds, allergies, smoking, sinus infections, or excessive mucus production. This disorder usually occurs in children. About 75 percent of children under the age of 10 have suffered from this disorder.
Symptoms of ear infections include hearing loss, pain from the ear, a lump behind the ear, and discharge from the ear resembling pus. Although a mild infection of the ear can heal on its own, the symptoms that appear can be relieved in the following ways:
- Taking over-the-counter medicines, such as decongestants, or pain relievers.
- Use ear drops to relieve inflammation.
- Place a warm cloth on the infected ear.
It is advisable to have your ear checked by an ENT specialist if the earache doesn't go away or if there are signs of a more severe infection, such as fever, headache, and dizziness. The doctor may give antibiotics to cure the ear infection.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a condition in which a person hears a subjective ringing sound inside the ear that does not originate from outside the body. This disorder often arises during earaches due to middle or deep ear infections, but the exact cause of tinnitus is still not clearly known.
Handling this condition is generally done by diagnosing the cause behind tinnitus. After the conditions of the attendees are known, treatment will be adjusted to the conditions of the accompanying participants. Some ways that can be applied to treat tinnitus include:
- If this condition is caused by an interruption in a blood vessel, it will be treated with medication or surgery.
- Eliminate earwax to reduce symptoms of tinnitus.
- Tinnitus can occur due to side effects of certain drugs, so changing the drug can reduce this condition.
- A voice that is too loud can be one of the triggers for tinnitus, so what can be done is to avoid sounds that are too loud.
Meniere's disease
This condition, which generally occurs in one ear, is caused by an abnormal fluid in the ear that causes sudden vertigo. Sudden spinning dizziness and tinnitus are the two main symptoms of Meniere's disease. This disease is more common in people aged 20-50 years, and treated with drugs to treat vertigo, injections in the middle ear, or surgery.
Barotrauma ear
This condition is an ear injury due to changes in air or water pressure when someone is climbing a mountain, traveling by plane, or diving at a certain depth. The main symptoms of ear barotrauma are hearing loss, ear clogging, pain, and dizziness.
In some cases, ear pain can cause hearing loss, for example due to aging, exposure to noise, head or ear injuries, and side effects of certain drugs. Given the susceptibility of the ear to the disorders above, it helps you be more careful in maintaining ear health. Here are things you can do:
- Avoid the inner ear from exposure to loud sounds for a long duration. Give an occasional pause if you listen to music through earphones. Never sleep with the earphones on and still attached to the ear.
- Avoid being near the speaker.
- Avoid cleaning the inner ear with a cotton bud or hair clip.
To avoid the worse risks, immediately consult the ear doctor ENT specialist (ear, nose, throat) so feel hearing loss or pain in the ear. If not treated immediately, ear disorders will be more difficult to treat and are feared to be permanent.
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