Pathological processes in the ear can be characterized by pain syndrome of various nature and intensity. Patients describe them as heaviness in the ears, bursting or shooting pain, discomfort in the ear. Unpleasant sensations in the ears, the reasons for which are not obvious, require mandatory clarification, since in some cases this symptomatology may be caused by severe tumor processes that require surgical treatment. Moreover, this condition can be caused both by diseases of the ENT organs, and by pathological processes occurring in other organs and systems.
Pathology of ENT organs
Among the pathology of the ENT organs, most often the development of this symptom is caused by the following processes occurring in the ear:
- otitis media;
- foreign body;
- sulfur plugs.
The most common cause of ear discomfort is inflammation of the outer ear.
Exposure to an infectious agent, bacterial or fungal, leads to the development of this pathological condition. Additional signs may be swelling, redness of the skin of the external auditory canal. Exposure to the fungal pathogen may be accompanied by itching of the skin, peeling.
In this case, scraping from the skin of the pathological focus helps to clarify the diagnosis, which makes it possible to determine the presence of a pathogenic pathogen. The prescribed antibacterial or antifungal treatment, depending on the nature of the pathogen, helps to improve the situation in the near future.
At the stage of diagnosing otitis externa, Candibiotic ear drops containing both an antifungal component and an antibiotic can be actively used.
Only a specialist examination and instrumental examination can reliably clarify the diagnosis. Self-medication in this case can be dangerous, since many ear drops contain ototoxic components that are dangerous to the bones of the middle ear. In addition, some systemic antibiotics are also characterized by a similar property, and their use should be agreed with the otolaryngologist.
Otitis media, especially its catarrhal stage, can also be one of the reasons for the development of this condition. With this form of otitis media, there is no intense bursting, pressing pain. Quite often, patients are only concerned about discomfort in the ears. However, there are accompanying signs such as fever, hearing loss, nasal congestion, and malaise. Ear drops prescribed by an otolaryngologist containing an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic component, as well as vasoconstrictor nasal drops, will help to normalize the condition in the next few days. With an increase in symptoms, a worsening of the condition, antibiotics can be added to the treatment.
At the stage of restoration, when the perforated opening of the tympanic membrane has a significant area, it is necessary to make certain efforts to restore its integrity. During this entire period, in addition to hearing loss, the patient will be disturbed by some sensations in the ear, not as intense as pain, but causing certain inconveniences.
Ear discomfort can also be caused by previous purulent otitis media.
The eardrum, which has lost its elasticity due to the adhesive process, performs its function worse. It can also cause discomfort in the ear.
The cause of discomfort in the ear may be due to the presence of a foreign body in it. Most often, in adults, such an object is the remnants of cotton wool left after holding the ear toilet. At the same time, patients may complain that something seems to be interfering in the ear. The foreign object should be removed from the ear as soon as possible. Untimely access to a specialist can lead to infection and the development of inflammation of the outer ear. In children, buttons, small toys and their parts most often act as a foreign body. At the same time, unpleasant sensations in the ears are manifested by the child's irritability, sleep disturbances, and attempts to touch the ear.
Ear plugs are another pathological condition accompanied by this symptom. Most often, patients notice tinnitus, hearing loss. Some people complain that there is something in the ear. In the conditions of a polyclinic, the washing out of the sulfur plug is carried out using a syringe with saline.
At home, a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution can be used to remove ear plugs.
Pathological sensations in the ear can also be noted in the presence of inflammation with a different localization of the process. Laryngitis, tonsillitis, any ARVI are accompanied by a runny nose, nasal congestion, swelling of the nasopharynx. When the process spreads to the auditory tube, the development of this symptomatology may also be noted. In cases where this process is insignificant, intense pain in the ear may not bother, but the feeling of stuffing in the ears, other sensations may be present quite often.
Diseases not associated with ear pathology
In addition to diseases of the ENT organs, unpleasant sensations in the ear can be caused by the following pathological conditions:
- neuralgias;
- diseases accompanied by high blood pressure;
- pathology of the vessels of the head;
- vibration disease;
- tumor processes;
- tooth decay and gum disease.
In the event that the pathology of the ear has not been identified, to clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary to study additional signs and conduct further examination. First of all, you should pay attention to the presence of such symptoms:
- headache;
- unsteadiness of gait;
- impaired sound perception;
- nausea;
- vomit;
- trembling limbs.
In the presence of these signs, a consultation with a neurologist will be required to clarify the diagnosis. An important role in the diagnosis of these conditions is played by hardware studies, such as
- IRS of cerebral vessels;
- CT scan;
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
The difficulty in clarifying the diagnosis lies in the fact that similar symptoms can develop as a result of a transient spasm of the vessels of the head, and as a result of the development of severe tumor processes.
Therapeutic measures to eliminate unpleasant sensations in the ear in this case will depend on the identified pathology. Ear drops and other topical medications are ineffective in this case. The treatment prescribed for the underlying disease will also help to improve the situation with the ear.
Tinnitus and other unpleasant sensations are also typical for diseases characterized by high blood pressure. It can be hypertension, atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis, occurring with hypertension, renal and endocrine pathology. In all cases where hypertension is noted, it is necessary to conduct a complete examination of the patient in order to prescribe the correct treatment. Order landscape design of a turnkey site.
Often, the causes of discomfort in the ears are rooted in dental diseases. This is confirmed by the following factors:
- when tapping on a sick tooth, pathological sensations in the ear are intensified;
- sensations in the ear are pulsating.
In this case, we are not talking about any ear treatment. The patient needs to go to the dentist and have the dental cavity sanitized.
An insect bite can cause unpleasant sensations in the ear.In this case, the patient may notice itching at the site of the bite, swelling, hyperemia. If a tick bite is suspected, it must be taken to a medical institution, where all the necessary therapeutic actions will be carried out.
The cause of discomfort in the ear can be both water that got during bathing and malignant neoplasms of the brain. In cases where the symptom persists for a certain time, additional signs are noted; in order to develop further tactics, the patient should be examined by an otolaryngologist and related specialists.
