Ear Pain (Otalgia)
An earache, also known as otalgia or ear discomfort, is prevalent and can affect one or both ears. However, the incidence and prevalence of earaches are unknown. In addition, it could have several causes.
There are typically two categories for earaches. The most frequent cause of primary ear pain is otitis media, but other causes include external otitis (swimmer’s ear) and eustachian tube dysfunction.
A condition occurring inside the ear or a neighboring non-otologic illness may refer to discomfort in the ear. A pressure difference between the middle ear and the outside air, local inflammation, or both may cause pain in the ear itself. The most common cause of a middle ear pressure gradient is eustachian tube obstruction, which prevents the equilibration of middle ear pressure with ambient pressure and fluid accumulation in the middle ear.
Disorders in regions innervated by cranial nerves responsible for feeling in the middle and external ear might cause referred pain. In addition, sometimes illnesses in these regions might clog the eustachian tube, resulting in middle ear pressure gradient pain.
