Understanding and Managing Unexplained Ear Pain: Causes and Prevention Tips

2024-05-06 20:00:00

ear disease

“Ear pain I’ve never felt before”… Why does an unexplained “earache” occur?

Journalist Lee Geum-sook

Entered 05/07/2024 05:00

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Mr Lee (43), an office worker, went to the ENT doctor for two months due to ear pain. The doctor suspects otitis externa and prescribes antibiotics, but the pain persists. Then the doctor said it seemed to be a nerve problem, prescribed me antidepressants and told me to manage my stress well. Everything was fine when I took the medication, but since then I have had intermittent ear pain.

There are people like Mr. Lee who suffer from unexplained ear pain (ear pain). It varies from a pain that feels like being stabbed by an awl to a mild but persistent tingling pain. Ear pain often occurs after a cold. This happens when inflammation in the throat and nose is not properly treated, causing pain that also affects the ears connected to it.

◇Different causes of ear pain
There are four cranial nerves and one cervical nerve that control sensation in the ear. These nerves serve not only the ears but also various other areas, such as the mouth and throat. Therefore, if you are suffering from pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, etc. due to a cold, you will also experience ear pain. Pain may also occur if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease or temporomandibular joint disorders. Outwardly, it does not appear to have a direct effect on the ears, but since it is connected by nerves, it also affects the ears.

Inflammation of the ear itself can also be the cause. There are many cases where bacterial infections (otitis externa) occur from digging into the ears to expel water that has entered the ears after bathing or swimming, and children often develop acute otitis media as a result of a cold, causing ear pain.

If you have ear pain, first use an ear endoscope and ear microscope to determine whether there are problems in the external ear canal. Next, perform a tonal hearing test to measure hearing and an impedance test to measure pressure inside the external ear canal. ear to check the general function and condition of the ear. If no ear abnormalities are detected here, an endoscope is added to observe whether there are any abnormalities in the nasal cavity and throat. What is important at this time is the accurate reporting of the patient’s medical history.

You can accurately determine the cause of ear pain by knowing whether you have ever suffered from a cold or gastritis or have a temporomandibular joint disorder. If these causes are not clearly identified, a neurotransmitter abnormality may be considered and antidepressants may be used.

◇Important to prevent ear pain
The most common causes of ear pain are pharyngitis, laryngitis and tonsillitis. If these illnesses occur, the symptoms should be relieved with medication as soon as possible. If tonsillitis occurs frequently, it is best to treat it surgically. In addition to treating gastroesophageal reflux disease, lifestyle habits need to be improved, such as reducing nighttime snacking and eating fatty foods. It is strictly forbidden to purge your ears. You should also be careful when using headphones. In fact, it can cause inflammation of the ear.

Ear pain is also related to physical condition, so you should take care of your health regularly. Overwork and excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided.

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