Ear Pain

People may think that earaches are just a minor nuisance, but they can cause debilitating pain. While waiting for medical care or for antibiotics to work, some home remedies can help.
Ear pain can feel unbearable, making it difficult to sleep, eat, or do anything but think about the pain. Many children find it particularly difficult to deal with an earache.

People who are experiencing severe ear pain should always speak to a doctor, especially for the first time. However, there are remedies that people can use at home to relieve less severe earaches, or as a means of reducing pain.

This article explores nine effective home remedies that may help people experiencing ear pain.

Causes of ear pain
man with an earache
An earache can be mild but an ear infection can cause debilitating pain.
Ear infections are the most common cause of ear pain. When the ear becomes infected, inflammation and buildup of pressure cause pain that can be intense.

People with ear infections often have other symptoms, such as sinus pressure or a sore throat because infections from nearby areas may affect the ear. An ear infection can also be a standalone condition. Most ear infections are bacterial, not viral.

Only a doctor can diagnose an ear infection. People should not take antibiotics without a prescription, or assume that symptoms are due to an ear infection.

However, earaches are not always caused by an ear infection. Other conditions can also cause pain in the ear.

Those include:

Referred pain: This may be from infections or inflammation elsewhere in the body. For example, a toothache may cause aching pain in the ear.
Chronic conditions: These include temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.
Skin infections: If they are in or around the ear.
Allergic reactions: These could be from a range of things, such as soap, shampoo, or earrings.
Water: This may cause pain if trapped in the ear.
Pressure: Changes in altitude can affect pressure in the ears. This usually resolves on its own, often with a popping sensation.
If left untreated, ear infections can spread to the jaw and other regions of the body. They may also damage the ear itself and can cause dangerously high fevers.

When symptoms of an ear problem are present and do not resolve on their own within a day or two, people should speak to a doctor. If the pain is intense, is accompanied by a high fever, or includes hearing loss, people should seek medical attention immediately.