Ear pain when pressing the tragus can occur for various reasons. Most often, painful sensations are the result of exposure to infectious agents. This symptom cannot be ignored, as the consequences can be quite serious.
A tragus is a protrusion on the outer region of the auricle, consisting mainly of cartilaginous tissue. Near the earlobe there is an antigus, which is a paired organ of the tragus.
The tragus is the most important element of the auditory system, since it is on it that the normal perception of sounds coming from a source that is behind a person depends. Thanks to this organ, a person has the ability to determine the direction of sound waves.
The cause of pain in the tragus
The tragus is on the outside of the ear and the person can easily touch it. Sometimes such manipulations are uncomfortable or painful. Why does the ear tragus hurt when pressed? The cause of this pathological phenomenon is most often otitis externa. This disorder is characterized by the development of inflammation in the outer ear.
Distinguish between limited and diffuse otitis externa. The development of limited inflammation occurs as a result of the appearance of an abscess inside the ear canal.
The course of the disease is accompanied by severe painful sensations. The pain subsides after a violation of the integrity of the abscess and the release of its contents outside.
Diffuse otitis media develops when exposed to pathogenic elements: staphylococci, streptococci, fungi. Also, a violation can be the result of a hypersensitivity reaction of the body. With diffuse inflammation, the entire ear cavity and, accordingly, the tragus are involved in the pathological process.
If the ear tragus is swollen and hurts, the cause may be mechanical damage to the auricle. Quite often, cleaning the ear canal with unsuitable objects leads to a violation of the integrity of the epithelium. It is also possible to develop eczema, which is characterized by the formation of ulcers.
If your ear hurts when you press the tragus, it may be due to water in your ear canal. This phenomenon is often seen in swimmers. Water washes away the layer of epithelium, which acts as a barrier in the path of pathogenic microflora. As a result, pathogenic elements have the ability to actively multiply.
Symptoms
Both forms of external ear inflammation have similar symptoms and are manifested by the following symptoms:
- painful sensations with any contact with the organ of hearing;
- intense itching in the ear area (most often observed with fungal infections and eczema);
- hearing impairment (this symptom is more typical for a limited form of inflammation, in which the abscess blocks the Eustachian tube);
- hyperemia of the skin in the area of the auricle;
- an increase in the size of nearby lymph nodes.
With limited otitis media, the pain is pulsating and intensifies as the follicle matures. When chewing, pressing on the tragus, the painful sensations become more intense. There is one-sided edema and redness of the skin - from the side of the localization of the abscess.
The diffuse inflammatory process is characterized by less intense painful sensations. With this form of pathology, pronounced itching and complete edema of the Eustachian tube is more often noted.
Since in most cases the cause of the development of the disease is an infection, there is a risk of the spread of the inflammatory process to the eardrum. In such a situation, hearing is noticeably impaired and exudate is released from the ear cavity.
Treatment activities
Not so long ago, boric alcohol was considered one of the most effective drugs for treating a sore ear. In this tool, a cotton swab was moistened and inserted into the ear canal. Proponents of this method of treatment argued that warming up promoted recovery.
Today, experts do not recommend the use of alcohol, since it can lead to tissue burns and aggravation of the pathological process.
Modern medicine offers more effective and safer treatments.
What to do if the ear hurts when pressing on the tragus? Therapeutic measures are prescribed taking into account the type and stage of development of the pathological process. With limited otitis media, an abscess is opened (the procedure is carried out exclusively by a specialist in a hospital setting), then antibacterial drops are used. During the operation, the auricle is cleared of purulent masses, as a result, painful sensations disappear and the general condition of the patient improves. The antibiotic, in turn, will promote early wound healing and prevent the development of a secondary infection.
There are cases when several boils develop in the ear cavity at once. This indicates the presence of pathogens in the blood. In such situations, not only local, but also systemic antibacterial agents are used.
If the ear tragus hurts due to a diffuse inflammatory process, treatment is carried out with the following drugs:
- systemic antibiotics. Before using these medicines, it is imperative to determine the pathogen and its sensitivity to antibiotics.
- antifungal drugs. The funds of this group are prescribed for the fungal nature of the disease. The medicine is prescribed taking into account the type of fungi.
- antihistamines. These drugs help relieve edema of the Eustachian tube.
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Such drugs allow you to quickly relieve painful sensations and stop the further development of the pathological process.
- multivitamin complexes to strengthen the body's defenses.
- ear drops with antibacterial effect. Local application of the antibiotic can quickly eliminate the symptoms of the disorder. As an alternative to drops, ointments with a similar effect can be used, which are introduced into the ear cavity using cotton wool.
Provided timely treatment, otitis media of the external ear is well treated and does not lead to complications.
To speed up the healing process, disease therapy should be comprehensive. Many experts, as an adjunct to the main treatment, recommend performing a massage of the sore ear:
- pull the ear up, down, to the sides, make circular movements;
- press palms to the ear and abruptly remove them;
- massage the tragus itself;
- cover the ear with a palm and tap the back of the head with the fingers of the other hand;
- rub the entire ear with vigorous movements.
Regularly performing such a massage will not only allow you to quickly cope with ear disease, but also have a beneficial effect on the state of the whole organism as a whole.
