Ear Pain

Overview

Ear pain or earache is characterized by dull, sharp pain or burning sensation in the ear. The pain may be either constant or comes and goes. It occurs due to inflammation or infection of the external, middle or inner ear. Ear pain can also be caused by other problems not related to the ear. It can be either a referred pain or radiating pain from other structures close to the ear. Ear pain is usually associated with symptoms such as impaired hearing, ear discharge, difficulty sleeping, headache, loss of balance and pressure in the ear. Ear infections such as middle ear infections and labyrinthitis are common factors of ear pain. There are other causes as well such as earwax build-up, sinus infections, perforated eardrum, infected tooth, foreign body in the ear and chronic facial nerve pain. Ear pain is commonly treated with ear drops and painkillers.