Sharp pain in ear comes and goes in adults
Sharp pain in the ear in adults may be caused by an underlying problem. It can occur in children or adults.
Ear infections are one of the most common causes of ear pain in both children and adults.
Some causes of ear pain in adults are more serious, including:
TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder
This condition can cause a stabbing or pulsating sensation around the ears and jaw that comes and goes. It can be the result of grinding your teeth, arthritic changes in your jaw joints or recent orthodontic work.
Altitude change syndrome
Traveling at high altitudes can cause earwax to build up, which can lead to shooting pain in the ears and other symptoms.
Foreign objects in the ear canal can also cause sharp ear pain and a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears.
Ear wax is a normal presence in the ear, but excess earwax can block the ear canal and cause sharp pain.
Otitis media with effusion (OME)
This condition happens when air or fluid builds up in the middle ear without an infection. It is usually not a serious condition and the eardrum heals on its own in several months, but it can be painful.
Surgical drainage is sometimes used to remove the fluid that has built up in the eardrum.
Home remedies can help relieve ear pain, especially in children. These can include soaking a cotton ball in hydrogen peroxide and then squeezing it into the ear.
Ear pain without infection in adults
There are lots of things that can cause ear pain without infection. Some of them are more likely to affect adults than children, such as arthritis of the jaw or head injuries.
Most earaches in adults are not caused by infection, so they usually go away on their own. However, if an earache doesn’t improve within 24 to 48 hours or gets worse, it’s time to call your doctor for advice.
Viral infections typically get better within a few days, but your doctor may recommend antibiotics if the infection hasn’t gone away or isn’t improving with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Otitis media (middle ear)
This type of ear infection is most common in children, but can also happen to adults. It occurs when fluid builds up behind the eardrum, pushing on the eardrum and causing pain.
Otitis externa (outer ear)
A common problem in people of all ages, an outer ear infection is usually caused by a foreign object stuck in the ear canal. The infection can also occur when the ear canal is damaged.
Symptoms include pain, itching, a thick discharge, and possibly difficulty hearing. This type of ear infection usually goes away on its own after several weeks, but it can be troublesome and require a doctor’s attention.
Treatment for an earache
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are effective for reducing pain from an earache. But you should not give aspirin to children under age 16. Instead, use a warm washcloth or ice pack to relieve pain.
Severe ear pain in adults
Ear pain can be an unpleasant annoyance, but it doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying life.
While ear infections are more common in children, they can also happen to adults. Severe ear pain can indicate a more serious condition, such as a ruptured eardrum or a mastoid infection (infection of the bone behind the ear), and requires immediate medical attention.
Adults often experience ear pain that’s not caused by an infection, such as when the jaw joint in the mouth is injured (temporomandibular disorder). If this type of ear pain persists or becomes more severe, call your doctor.
If you have an earache, you can use over-the-counter pain relievers or a cold washcloth on the outer ear for 20 minutes to reduce the symptoms. It can also help to have your ear canal cleaned by a health professional.
Some essential oils, such as tea tree oil and oregano oil, have antibacterial or antiviral properties that help kill bacteria or prevent viruses from replicating. A few drops of these oils placed directly inside the ear can also ease pain and inflammation.
In addition, ear drops or other medicines may be prescribed for certain conditions, such as swimmer’s ear and otitis media. Your doctor will decide what treatment works best for you.
Many earaches get better on their own, and you can treat them with simple pain relief medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol). For more severe cases of earache or swimmer’s ear, your doctor might recommend ear drops or antibiotics.
How to reduce swelling in ear canal
Swelling in ear canal is common. It can be a sign of an infection or a bruise, or it may be caused by something more serious.
Symptoms include pain, redness, discharge or pus, and a feeling of fullness. Your doctor looks in your ear with an otoscope to find out what is causing your symptoms and prescribes treatment, such as antibiotic ear drops.
Reduce your risk of ear pain and swelling by washing your ears well. Keep your ear canals dry by using a hair dryer on low to gently dry your ears after showering or swimming in dirty water, and by wearing a swim cap.
Use a warm compress or cold pack on your affected ear, alternating 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. Alternately, you can sleep upright, which helps reduce pressure in your ear canal, as does sleeping with your head elevated on two or more pillows.
Avoid putting things in your ear, such as cotton wool buds or ear plugs. These can damage your ear, and should be avoided until your symptoms have cleared up.
Garlic, tea tree or olive oil dripping gently into the ear canal may help to ease ear pain. If you do use any of these, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly afterward. If your ear pain or infection isn’t getting better with home care, see your doctor or ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT).
Your ENT will check your hearing, if necessary. The ENT might need to clean your ear canal to remove debris and fluid that can block the ear. This ENT might also need to insert a cotton wick into your ear to allow medicated ear drops to be placed.