Earaches and ear pain: causes, treatment, and prevention

Children are often more at risk of getting earaches, but earache in adults is not uncommon either. And despite usually being nothing to worry about, any ear pain should still be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Dealing with an earache or significant ear pain can be quite distressing. As well as professional help, fortunately, there are natural remedies you can try at home to alleviate discomfort. We explore the common causes of earaches, from infections to impacted earwax, and provide insights into effective solutions.

Common earache causes

Earaches are a prevalent health issue affecting both young and old, often manifesting as a dull or sharp pain in one or both ears. While they typically resolve within one to two weeks, persistent ear pain lasting longer should prompt a visit to a primary care provider or audiologist.

It's crucial to note that earaches aren't always infection-related and can be associated with sickness or "referred" pain, originating from a different location, such as an infected tooth.

Here are common causes:

• Ear infection (acute otitis media): common in children but can affect adults, often requiring surgical intervention with ear tubes.

• Glue ear: a condition where a glue-like substance fills the middle ear, typically resolving itself within a few weeks.

• Impacted or built-up earwax

• Throat or sinus infections or colds

• Foreign object in the ear

• Pain in the jaw: resulting from an impacted or infected tooth or teeth grinding.

• Cold weather: may cause ear pain for some individuals.

• Changes in altitude: experienced during activities like flying, scuba diving, or driving in mountainous areas.

• Water trapped in the ear or swimmer's ear (Otitis Externa)

Ear pain treatment

Earaches can be debilitating and treating them quickly if symptoms do escalate is crucial, so make sure you know your options.

A few effective treatments for earache include:

• Managing pain with medication and/or drops

• Antibiotic therapy

• Ear tubes

Most of the time, ear pain will go away without needing any treatment at all. However, if it doesn’t fade or there are other, more serious symptoms, you should visit your doctor or a local ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist as soon as possible.

Earache drops

Thankfully, earaches almost always clear up on their own and don’t require medication. Even so, a hearing health care professional could recommend over-the-counter or prescription ear drops to:

• Remove wax that may have accumulated in the ear canals

• Reduce inflammation and swelling

• Stop the growth of any bacteria brought on by infection

If you have persistent ear pain, drops can provide long-lasting relief. You just need to make sure that you get the go-ahead from your doctor before using them.

Earache home remedies

Warm or cold compresses: apply alternately under the ear for relief. Caution: Never fall asleep with heating pads and ensure children are supervised.

Sleeping position: sleep propped up with pillows, avoiding lying completely straight or on one side, can alleviate earache discomfort.

Hydrogen peroxide: diluted with equal parts water, use drops to gently break down earwax. Rinse with clean water.

Chewing gum or sucking on candy: relieve ear pressure that causes pain, especially during altitude changes.

Warm olive oil: to soften earwax, use oil at body temperature, avoiding irritation.

Naturopathic herbal ear drops: available at health food stores, these drops often contain clove or lavender and may include ginger, a natural anti-bacterial.

Over-the-counter pain relievers: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help with ear pain.

Hydration: stay well-hydrated to ensure proper fluid balance, aiding in the prevention of earaches.

Avoiding irritants: steer clear of irritants like cigarette smoke, as they can exacerbate ear pain.

Ear drops: on-prescription ear drops can help with wax buildup, a common cause of ear discomfort.

Avoiding insertion of objects: refrain from inserting objects into the ear, as this can lead to injuries and infections.