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Ear pain
Written By: Dr Ibrahim Issa MD. Otolaryngology Consultant , Laryngologist & Phonosurgeon.
Edited By: Dr Mohammad Murad MD. Otolaryngology Specialist.
Pain in the ear and the area around the ear is a very common complaint in general ENT clinic as well as general practitioners clinic. Nerves that are causing the sensation of pain in the ear are complex and are also related to other areas in the head and neck, in other words, patient might have problem in a place away from the ear and will complain of ear pain.
Causes of ear pain could be divided in to two categories: ear causes and non ear causes or (referred pain).
Ear causes: this could include infection of the ear canal (otitis externa), infection of the middle ear (otitis media), tumors and foreign bodies in the ear, and these ear causes are usually associated with severe pain, could be associated with ear discharge, ear fullness, swelling and problems of hearing. And these problems are usually very obvious and easy to diagnose.
Referred pain: which is a term used for ear pain that is originated from elsewhere. Because the nerve that gives the sensation of pain to the ear also innervates other structures like the teeth, the Jaw, the jaw joint, the throat, the tonsils, and the larynx, any problem in these sites caused by infection, inflammation, or tumor could cause pain in the ears. We can list some very common problems that present to the ear pain clinic like dental caries, temporomandibular joint inflammation, tonsillitis, and pharyngitis. This makes the diagnosis sometimes not easy and needs more evaluation to rule out all these problems.
The ear pain nerve is called the Trigeminal nerve starting with the letter T and it innervates several structures. Problems in these structures (Tonsils, Temporomandibular joint, Teeth, throat, thyroid, tongue) will cause referred pain !
Written By: Dr Ibrahim Issa MD. Otolaryngology Consultant , Laryngologist & Phonosurgeon.
Edited By: Dr Mohammad Murad MD. Otolaryngology Specialist.
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