Earache
A severe, stabbing pain in the ear usually caused by an infection in the middle ear. This occurs most often in young children, when the stabbing pain is accompanied by a fever and a temporary loss of hearing. If the eardrum breaks, the pain and pressure are relieved immediately.
Another common cause of earache is SWIMMER’S EAR (otitis externa), which is an inflammation of the outer ear canal usually caused by an infection. This infection may affect the entire canal, or only parts of it, and may form an abscess or boil. There may be irritation or itching, discharge, and temporary mild deafness as well.
Much more rarely, an earache may be caused by HERPES zoster (shingles), which can cause blisters in the ear canal and can produce pain for weeks or months after the infection has ended.
Earaches that come and go could occur from many different problems, including tooth pain, TONSILLITIS, or pain in the lower jaw. In fact, almost any disorder that affects areas near the ear can cause an earache, since the same nerves that serve the ear also supply many nearby areas.
Earaches may be treated with painkillers, and antibiotics are often prescribed for infection. Pus in the outer ear may need to be removed or drained.
