Otalgia (patient information): Difference between revisions

	Otalgia
Overview
What are the symptoms?
What are the causes?
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for Otalgia?
Prevention
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Otalgia On the Web
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
Images of Otalgia
Videos on Otalgia
FDA on Otalgia
CDC on Otalgia
Otalgia in the news
Blogs on Otalgia
Directions to Hospitals Treating Otalgia
Risk calculators and risk factors for Otalgia

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Revision as of 14:00, 14 September 2011

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

An earache can be a sharp, dull, or burning pain in one or both ears. The pain may be temporary or constant.

What are the symptoms of Otalgia?

The symptoms of an ear infection may include:

Ear pain
Fever
Fussiness
Increased crying
Irritability

Many children will have temporary and minor hearing loss during, and right after, an ear infection. Permanent hearing loss is rare, but the risk increases with the number of infections

What causes Otalgia?

The eustachian tube runs from the middle part of each ear to the back of the throat. This tube drains fluid that is normally made in the middle ear. If the eustachian tube becomes blocked, fluid can build up. This may lead to pressure behind the eardrum or an ear infection.

Ear pain in adults is less likely to be from an ear infection. What you think is ear pain may actually be coming from another location, such as your temporomandibular joint, your teeth, throat, or other location. This is called "referred" pain.

Causes of ear pain may include:

Arthritis of the jaw
Acute ear infection
Chronic ear infection
Ear injury from pressure changes (from high altitudes and other causes)
Object stuck in the ear or severely impacted ear wax
Ruptured or perforated eardrum
Sinus infection
Sore throat with referred pain to the ears
Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
Tooth infection

Ear pain in a child or infant may be due to infection, or the following causes:

Ear canal irritation from cotton-tipped swabs
Soap or shampoo staying in the ear

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call your doctor if:

Your child has a high fever or severe pain or seems sicker than is usual for an ear infection
New symptoms appear, especially:
Dizziness
Severe headache
Swelling around the ear
Weakness of the face muscles

Severe pain suddenly stops; this may be a sign of a ruptured eardrum Symptoms (pain, fever, or irritability) get worse or do not improve within 24 - 48 hours

Treatment options

The following steps may help an earache:

A cold pack or cold wet wash cloth applied to the outer ear for 20 minutes may reduce pain.
For children old enough to safely chew gum, chewing may help relieve the pain and pressure of an ear infection.
If a child is uncomfortable lying down, resting in an upright position can help reduce pressure in the middle ear.
Over-the-counter ear drops are gentle and effective, as long as the eardrum has not ruptured.
Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can provide relief for children and adults with an earache. (Do NOT give aspirin to children.)

You can relieve ear pain caused by rapidly descending from high altitudes by swallowing or chewing gum. Allowing infants to suck on a bottle while the plane is descending can help.

Where to find medical care for Otalgia?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Otalgia

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

The doctor will do a physical examination, and examine the ear, nose, and throat areas.

Pain, tenderness, or redness of the mastoid bone behind the ear on the skull is often a sign of a serious infection.

Prevention of Otalgia

The following steps can help prevent earaches:

Avoid smoking near children. Smoking has been shown to cause millions of ear infections each year in children.
Prevent outer ear infections by not putting objects in the ear, and drying the ear after bathing or swimming.
Take steps to control allergies. In particular, avoid allergy triggers. Steroid nasal spray may help reduce ear infections. However, over-the-counter sedating antihistamines and decongestants do NOT prevent ear infections.

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003046.htm

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+{{Template:Otalgia (patient information)}}
 '''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Otalgia|here]]'''
-{{SI}}
+{{CMG}}
-{{CMG}}; '''Associate Editor-in-Chief:''' Alexandra M. Palmer
 ==Overview==
-[[Otalgia]], or [[earache]], can be a sharp, dull, or burning [[pain]] in one or both ears. The pain may be temporary or constant.
+An earache can be a sharp, dull, or burning pain in one or both ears. The pain may be temporary or constant.
 ==What are the symptoms of Otalgia?==
 The symptoms of an ear infection may include:
-*Ear pain
-*[[Fever]]
-*Fussiness
-*Increased crying
-*[[Irritability]]
-Many children will have temporary and minor [[hearing loss]] during, and right after, an [[ear infection]]. Permanent hearing loss is rare, but the risk increases with the number of infections.
+* Ear pain
+* Fever
+* Fussiness
+* Increased crying
+* Irritability
+Many children will have temporary and minor hearing loss during, and right after, an ear infection. Permanent hearing loss is rare, but the risk increases with the number of infections
 ==What causes Otalgia?==
+The eustachian tube runs from the middle part of each ear to the back of the throat. This tube drains fluid that is normally made in the middle ear. If the eustachian tube becomes blocked, fluid can build up. This may lead to pressure behind the eardrum or an ear infection.
-Ear pain in children is often caused by a buildup of fluid and pressure behind the [[eardrum]], in the area called the [[middle ear]]. The [[middle ear]] is connected to the nasal passages by a short narrow tube, the [[Eustachian tube]]. The Eustachian tube allows normal fluids to drain out of the [[middle ear]], and helps keep the pressure in your ear equalized.
+Ear pain in adults is less likely to be from an ear infection. What you think is ear pain may actually be coming from another location, such as your temporomandibular joint, your teeth, throat, or other location. This is called "referred" pain.
-A cold or [[allergy]] can block the [[Eustachian tube]] due to inflammation and the buildup of secretions. This is especially likely in small children, because their [[Eustachian tube]] is shorter and more horizontal. Closing of the [[Eustachian tube]] prevents the normal flow of fluid from the [[middle ear]]. The fluid begins to build up, which can cause stuffiness, [[pain]], [[hearing loss]], and an [[ear infection]].
+Causes of ear pain may include:
-Ear pain in adults is less likely to be from an [[ear infection]]. What you perceive as ear pain may actually be coming from another location, such as your [[temporomandibular joint]], your teeth, throat, or other location. This is called "referred" pain.
+* Arthritis of the jaw
+* Acute ear infection
+* Chronic ear infection
+* Ear injury from pressure changes (from high altitudes and other causes)
+* Object stuck in the ear or severely impacted ear wax
+* Ruptured or perforated eardrum
+* Sinus infection
+* Sore throat with referred pain to the ears
+* Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
+* Tooth infection
-Causes of [[earache]]:
+Ear pain in a child or infant may be due to infection, or the following causes:
-*Arthritis of the jaw
-*[[Ear infection]]
-*[[Middle ear]] infection - acute (short and severe episode)
-*[[Middle ear]] infection - chronic (does not go away or recurs)
-*[[Outer ear]] (canal) infection - [[acute]]
-*[[Outer ear]] (canal) infection - [[chronic]]
-*[[Outer ear]] (canal) infection - [[malignant]]
-*Ear injury from pressure changes (from high altitudes and other causes)
-*Object stuck in the ear or severely impacted ear wax
-*Ruptured or perforated [[eardrum]]
-*[[Sinus infection]]
-*[[Sore throat]] with referred pain to the ears
-*Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
-*[[Tooth infection]]
-Ear pain in a child or infant is not always from infection, however. Other causes include:
+* Ear canal irritation from cotton-tipped swabs
-*Ear canal irritation from cotton-tipped swabs
+* Soap or shampoo staying in the ear
-*Soap or shampoo staying in the ear
-*Water from bathing
-==Who is at risk for Otalgia?==
+==When to seek urgent medical care?==
-Children are more at risk for [[Otalgia]] than adults. Children are especially at risk if they:
+Call your doctor if:
-*Are around smokers
-*Go to day care where they are exposed to many more germs and viruses
-*Have a [[cold]] or [[allergy]]. This blocks the [[Eustachian tube]] and prevents the normal flow of fluid from the [[middle ear]].
-*Have had previous [[ear infections]] or have a [[family history]] of [[ear infections]]
-*Were [[premature birth|premature]] at birth or had a low birth weight
-In general, males tend to show a higher incidence of [[ear infections]] than females.
-==How do I know if I have Otalgia?==
-The doctor will do a [[physical examination]], which may include examination of the:
-*[[Ear]]
-*[[Mastoid]] (bony part behind the ear)
-*[[Nose]]
-*[[Throat]]
-[[Pain]], [[tenderness]], or redness of the mastoid often indicates a serious [[infection]].
-During the examination, the doctor will ask questions about the ear pain, such as:
-When did it begin?
-Is it getting better, worse, or staying the same?
-Is the pain constant?
-What other [[symptoms]] are present?
-Is there ear pressure?
-Is there drainage from the ear?
-Are there unusual ear noises?
-Is there a [[fever]]?
-Is there pain in the bone behind the ear?
-Is there [[hearing loss]]?
-==When to seek urgent medical care==
+* Your child has a high fever or severe pain or seems sicker than is usual for an ear infection
-Call your doctor if:
+* New symptoms appear, especially:
+* Dizziness
+* Severe headache
+* Swelling around the ear
+* Weakness of the face muscles
-Your child has a high [[fever]] or severe [[pain]] or seems sicker than is usual for an [[ear infection]]
+Severe pain suddenly stops; this may be a sign of a ruptured eardrum
-*New [[symptoms]] appear, especially:
+Symptoms (pain, fever, or irritability) get worse or do not improve within 24 - 48 hours
-**[[Dizziness]]
-**Severe [[headache]]
-**Swelling around the [[ear]]
-**Weakness of the face muscles
-*Severe [[pain]] suddenly stops; this may be a sign of a ruptured [[eardrum]]
-*[[Symptoms]] ([[pain]], [[fever]], or [[irritability]]) get worse or do not improve within 24 - 48 hours
 ==Treatment options==
-''Home care''
+The following steps may help an earache:
-The following steps may help an [[earache]]:
+* A cold pack or cold wet wash cloth applied to the outer ear for 20 minutes may reduce pain.
+* For children old enough to safely chew gum, chewing may help relieve the pain and pressure of an ear infection.
+* If a child is uncomfortable lying down, resting in an upright position can help reduce pressure in the middle ear.
+* Over-the-counter ear drops are gentle and effective, as long as the eardrum has not ruptured.
+* Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can provide relief for children and adults with an earache. (Do NOT give aspirin to children.)
-*A cold pack or cold wet wash cloth applied to the [[outer ear]] for 20 minutes may reduce [[pain]].
+You can relieve ear pain caused by rapidly descending from high altitudes by swallowing or chewing gum. Allowing infants to suck on a bottle while the plane is descending can help.
-*For children old enough to safely chew gum, chewing may help relieve the [[pain]] and pressure of an [[ear infection]].
-*If a child is uncomfortable lying down, resting in an upright position can help reduce pressure in the [[middle ear]].
-*Olive oil or [[over-the-counter]] ear drops are gentle and effective, as long as the [[eardrum]] has not ruptured. Prescription drops, such as Auralgan, are also effective for pain relief.
-*[[Over-the-counter]] [[pain]] relievers, such as [[acetaminophen]] or [[ibuprofen]], can provide relief for children and adults with an [[earache]]. (Do NOT give [[aspirin]] to children.)
-You can relieve ear [[pain]] caused by rapidly descending from high altitudes by swallowing or chewing gum. Allowing infants to suck on a bottle while the plane is descending can help.
+==Where to find medical care for Otalgia?==
+[http://maps.google.com/maps?q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|map+top+hospital+Otalgia}}}}&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl Directions to Hospitals Treating Otalgia]
-==Diseases with similar symptoms==
+==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
-*[[Swimmer's ear]]
+The doctor will do a physical examination, and examine the ear, nose, and throat areas.
-*Malignant otitis externa
-==Where to find medical care for Otalgia==
+Pain, tenderness, or redness of the mastoid bone behind the ear on the skull is often a sign of a serious infection.
-[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|Otalgia}}}}&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=65.008093,112.148438&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;spn=91.690419,149.414063&amp;z=2&amp;source=embed Directions to Hospitals Treating Otalgia]
 ==Prevention of Otalgia==
-The following steps can help prevent [[earaches]]:
+The following steps can help prevent earaches:
-*Avoid smoking near children. Smoking has been shown to cause millions of [[ear infections]] each year in children.
+* Avoid smoking near children. Smoking has been shown to cause millions of ear infections each year in children.
-*Prevent outer [[ear infections]] by not putting objects in the ear, and drying the ear after bathing or swimming.
+* Prevent outer ear infections by not putting objects in the ear, and drying the ear after bathing or swimming.
-*Take steps to control [[allergies]]. In particular, avoid [[allergy]] triggers. Steroid nasal spray may help reduce [[ear infections]]. However, [[over-the-counter]] sedating [[antihistamines]] and [[decongestants]] do NOT prevent [[ear infections]].
+* Take steps to control allergies. In particular, avoid allergy triggers. Steroid nasal spray may help reduce ear infections. However, over-the-counter sedating antihistamines and decongestants do NOT prevent ear infections.
-==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)==
-Because most [[ear infections]] improve within 24 hours of receiving medical care, health care providers are less likely to prescribe [[antibiotics]] immediately. Your doctor will often wait to see if [[symptoms]] continue or worsen.
-If [[antibiotics]] are prescribed, it is important to take ALL of the prescribed [[antibiotics]] on schedule.
-Children with persistent or recurring [[ear infections]] may need ear tubes inserted to help the [[middle ear]] begin working properly again. Inserting ear tubes is a simple and effective [[surgical procedure]].
 ==Sources==
 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003046.htm
+[[Category:Patient information]]
+[[Category:Overview complete]]
+[[Category:Template complete]]
 [[Category:Otolaryngology]]
-[[Category:Signs and symptoms]]
-[[Category:Patient information]]
-[[Category:Mature chapter]]
-[[Category:Pediatrics]]
 [[Category:Otolaryngology patient information]]
-[[Category:Emergency medicine]]
 [[Category:Pediatrics]]
+[[Category:Pediatrics patient information]]
-{{SIB}}
 {{WH}}
 {{WS}}