Earache is one of the most common reasons we visit our healthcare providers every year. Ear pain can be a symptom of infection or an underlying health condition. Most of the time, ear pain isn’t dangerous.

What other symptoms may accompany Earache?

Earache

Earache and its accompanying symptoms vary depending on the underlying cause.

Common symptoms include:

• Discharge from the external ear canal: In some cases, the pain may be accompanied by discharge from the ear. The discharge may be clear, yellowish, bloody, or pus-like, indicating an infection or other underlying condition.
• Hearing loss: Earache can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss. You may experience muffled sounds or a feeling that your ear is full and heavy
• Tinnitus: Tinnitus refers to the perception of ringing, buzzing, or other sounds. It can occur alongside ear pain or independently
• Itching or redness: Irritation or inflammation in the ear can cause itching, redness, or swelling in and around the ear canal.
• Jaw pain or headache: In some cases, ear pain can radiate to the jaw or cause headaches, especially if the pain is related to temporomandibular joint disorders
• Fever: If ear pain is caused by an infection, such as otitis media or otitis externa, it may be accompanied by a fever, especially in children
• Dizziness or vertigo: Severe ear pain or certain ear conditions, such as infections or inflammation of the inner ear, can cause dizziness or a spinning sensation (vertigo).

How is the cause diagnosed?

Physical examination of the ear is conducted for signs of infection, inflammation, or injury.
At EYiasis, a complete medical history is gleaned from the patient. The ENT specialist will then determine whether you have an ear infection based on your symptoms and a physical examination. Underlying pathology or abnormalities will be examined using otoscopy of the external auditory canal and eardrum.

Lastly, tympanometry may be performed in order to assess middle ear function. and the ENT specialist may conduct a hearing test (audiometry) if there is any hearing loss.