Earache in Adults

Hearing problems or temporary loss of hearing due to the earache, reminds me an old and too worn-out joke. I know, I'm not going to buy any laughs out of you by quoting it here, but, it may make my task of explaining, how serious it can be, a little bit simple. Tom and Harry meet at a corner, in the neighborhood of a mall. Harry raises his right hand in greeting and says, "Hey Tom, are you going to the mall?" Tom replies, "Oh, no man, I am going to the mall. How about going there together?" Harry replies, "Some other time, Tom. Right now, I am rushing to the mall."

Do you think, this is a fictitious joke and such a situation can never arise in the real life? Spend some time at an airport and watch the disembarking of air-travelers. You will find at least one pair having a conversation, in the exact manner as that of Tom and Harry. Some of the people experience ear pain even while flying over short distances. Difference in the atmospheric pressure, at the ground level and high above it, often causes earache during a take off and a landing.

Causes of Earache

The major cause of earache in adults is ear infection. The earache can be strong enough to disturb the peace of your mind. It is an indication, that, a crisis needs your attention and careful handing of the ear problem that is troubling your ear is required. The following are some of the ear pain causes:

Wax Blockage in Ear
Human body employs an unusual mechanism to protect the inner ear, from the dust, water and dirt. It produces wax to traps dirt and dust and to resist the water. The ear produces wax, which acts as a defender of the inner ear and the eardrum, against these invaders. When the wax is produced in more than normal quantity, it creates blockage in the ear. The pressure exerted by the accumulated wax in the ear canal and on the surrounding body tissues causes earache. Symptoms are due to the wax blockages are dull ear pain, ringing in ear and hearing problems.

Barotrauma or Barotitis
Eustachian tube is a thin and small tube that leads from the inner ear and opens at the throat. It is responsible for maintaining constant pressure in the inner ear. When the atmospheric pressure, outside the ear increases, it presses on the eardrum, which results in earache. To relieve the pressure on the eardrum, the air from the inner ear moves into the inner ear from the throat via Eustachian tube. This equalizes the pressure on both sides of the eardrum and the pain is relieved.

When the atmospheric pressure outside the ear lowers, the air from the inner ear moves into the throat via Eustachian tube. This lessens it's pressure on the eardrum. In case of an infection, such as sinus infection, the mucous membrane of the Eustachian tube is inflamed. This disturbs the air flow coming in and out from the inner ear.

When a plane lands or takes off, there is sudden change of atmospheric pressure, which can cause extraordinary earache, to an air-traveler, if he or she is suffering from a sinus infections. In some of the people, Eustachian tube's width is small. These people are prone to earache due to barotitis.

Otitis Media
Otitis media is the inflammation or redness of the inner ear, which is a result of the infection that is present deep inside the ear. It is also referred to as middle ear infection. This type of ear infection is independent of the congestion of the nose or fever. It is also not related with the allergies or the symptoms of common cold. If you are bothered by the earache, then whether it is due to the Otitis media or not can be found by tugging at the ear lobe. This condition may cause ringing of ear. If tugging produces a bolt of pain, then, you must take your doctors help in curing this infection.

Otitis Externa
Otitis externa is the inflammation or redness of the external ear, caused by accumulation of water in the ear canal. The water trapped inside the ear causes ear pain. Generally, the pain troubles you after a swim. Hence, the most popular term used by the common man for Otitis externa is Swimmer's ear. However, there are other causes of Otitis externa, such as high humidity or excessive sweating. The fluid trapped inside the ear provides the favorable environment for micro-organisms like bacteria and fungus. The growth of these pathogens leads to further complications. To resolve the pain due to Otitis externa, proper medical advice is necessary.

Treating Adult Earaches

If the ear pain in adults, is due to bacterial infection, then your doctor will most probably prescribe antibiotics as a treatment. You can use over-the-counter products, to solve earache resulting out of wax blockage in the ear canal. It is necessary to use them as per the instructions provided with it. You can also try out some earache home remedies to resolve the problem.

The earache can really make you lose your sleep, as it generally occurs at night. There are few other causes such as dental pain, tinnitus, accidental injury or cancer in various parts of the ear. However, most of the earache causes are easily treatable.