EAR PAINSee also Toothpain
teeth may cause ear pain Common problems- Wax impacted - patients often know if they regularly have impacted
wax and need their ears syringing.
- Otitis externa - Outer ear tube infection - Often associated with
frequent bathing (perhaps after return from holiday) or ear cleaning (cotton
buds)
- Otitis Media - Middle ear infections. Usually in children. Often
after 2-3 days of a cold their temperature rises and they develop ear pain. -
They may have big adenoids and snore at night
- Associated with trauma
Danger signs- In trauma cases - bleeding/clear discharge - Contact GP urgently -
bruise behind the ear - Contact GP urgently
- Bleeding from ear
- History of perforated car drum - no topical preparations
- Consider a foreign body if symptoms persist
Notes for children- Most likely middle ear infection requiring antibiotics from GP
- Ear drops may relieve pain in the short term by equalising the pressure
across the drum - while awaiting medical review
- Apyrexic children - with a history of frequent recent bathing - may
initially be treated for otitis externa
Notes for the elderly- Deafness may not resolve until 1-2 weeks after ear-syringing/use of drops -
but if it persists Contact GP.
General advice- Nothing smaller than your elbow should go in your ear. ie. don't use cotton
buds they can cause terrible damage.
- Patients with frequent wax problems may benefit from weekly use of wax
softenin drops.
Therapy- Analgesics.
- Antipyretics.
- Wax softening drops.
- Soothing drops in otitis externa ear - Contact GP urgently.
- Bleeding from ear - no topical preparations. Consequently middle ear
infection requiring antibiotics from GP
Dictionary Analgesic: a compound capable of producing analgesia.
Antipyretic: antifebrile, i.e. reducing fever
Apyretic: with fever, afebrile.
Otitis externa: inflammation of the extemal auditory canal.
Otitis media: inflammation of the middle ear. | 
