Ear Condition

Ear Pain — find the source, not just the symptom.

Earache can come from the ear itself or be referred from the throat, jaw, or teeth — the nerves that supply these areas share overlapping pathways. A proper diagnosis means examining the ear, the throat, and often the jaw joint before settling on a cause.

Medical name Otalgia

Category Ear Condition

Common treatment Pain relief · Drops

Overview

Pain that comes from within the ear (primary otalgia) usually has an obvious source on examination — fluid behind the drum, wax pressing on the wall, or inflammation of the canal.

Pain that is referred to the ear (secondary otalgia) has a normal-looking ear on examination. Common culprits are throat infections, dental problems, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

Symptoms

Sharp, throbbing, or constant ache inside or around the ear
Pain that worsens with chewing or jaw movement
Fullness or muffled hearing
Tenderness when pressing the small bump in front of the ear
Fever in younger children with middle-ear infections

Common Causes

Acute otitis media (middle-ear infection)
Otitis externa (outer-ear infection or swimmer's ear)
Impacted wax pressing on the canal wall
Eustachian tube dysfunction after a cold or flight
Referred pain from teeth, throat, or jaw joint

Treatment Options

Pain relief (paracetamol, NSAIDs as appropriate)
Topical drops for outer-ear inflammation
Antibiotics when bacterial middle-ear infection is confirmed
Treatment of the underlying source (dental, throat, jaw)
Microsuction to relieve wax impaction

When to See an ENT

Pain that lasts more than 48 hours, fever above 38.5°C, swelling behind the ear, dizziness, or any drop in hearing warrants an ENT review. Babies and small children who are pulling at their ears should be seen promptly.

At Dr. Naseer's ENT, we examine both ears, the nose, the throat, and the jaw — referred pain is missed surprisingly often elsewhere.