How to treat earache and its causes

Our ears are complex organs which allow us to hear the beautiful sounds life has to offer but for many of us hearing, dizziness and tinnitus are common problems.

Patients often seek advice about managing their symptoms from staff in our community pharmacies so I’ve put together some information which may be helpful.

If the cause of earache is an ear infection, there may be a watery or pus-like fluid coming out of the ear.

Outer ear infections (infections of the tube connecting the outer ear and eardrum) and middle ear infections (infections of the parts of the ear behind the eardrum) are common causes of earache.

Many ear infections clear up on their own without treatment, but in some cases your GP may prescribe eardrops or antibiotics.

You cannot always prevent ear infections, particularly inner ear infections caused by colds and flu.

Glue ear (also known as otitis media with effusion) is a build-up of fluid deep inside the ear, which commonly causes some temporary hearing loss. The condition tends to be painless, but sometimes the pressure of this fluid can cause earache.

Glue ear will often clear up on its own, although this can take a few months. If the problem is particularly persistent, a minor procedure to place small tubes called grommets in the ear may be recommended to drain the fluid.

Earache can result from injury to the inside of the ear – for example, by scraping earwax from the ear canal using a cotton bud or poking a cotton bud too far into your ear, which can puncture the eardrum.

The ear canal is sensitive and can easily become damaged. The ear should heal on its own without treatment, but it can take up to two months for a perforated eardrum to heal.

Earache is occasionally caused by a problem with the joint of your jaw bone (where the jaw meets the skull). This is known as temporomandibular joint pain and can be caused by problems such as arthritis or teeth grinding. Jaw pain can be treated with painkillers, warm or cold compresses.