What should you know about adult earache?

Mild pain without warning signs may settle with simple comfort measures. Pain that is severe, follows an injury, or occurs with discharge, sudden hearing change, marked dizziness, swelling, or facial weakness needs medical assessment.

Earwax buildup can cause pressure, discomfort, muffled hearing, or a blocked sensation. An outer or middle-ear infection may cause pain, tenderness, discharge, fever, or hearing changes. Colds and sinus inflammation can interfere with pressure equalisation behind the eardrum, especially during air travel.

The source is not always inside the ear. Jaw-joint irritation, dental problems, and inflammation in the throat can send pain toward the ear. A clinician may therefore examine the ear canal and eardrum and also check the mouth, throat, jaw, and nearby skin.

Keep the ear dry and avoid inserting cotton buds, fingers, oils, or tools into the canal. A warm compress held against the outside of the ear may ease discomfort. If you normally can take them, use an over-the-counter pain reliever according to its label and check with a pharmacist if you have kidney, liver, stomach, bleeding, pregnancy, or medicine-interaction concerns.

Do not use ear drops when there is discharge, a possible perforated eardrum, an ear tube, or recent ear surgery unless a clinician says the product is suitable. Antibiotics do not treat every cause of ear pain; examination helps determine whether they or professional wax removal are appropriate.

Seek urgent care for sudden hearing loss, new facial weakness, severe dizziness, confusion, a serious head or ear injury, or blood or clear fluid coming from the ear. Painful redness or swelling behind the ear, or an ear that begins to stick out, also warrants prompt assessment.

Arrange a clinical review if pain is severe, keeps worsening, does not begin to improve, repeatedly returns, or comes with fever, pus-like discharge, a blocked ear, or reduced hearing. Earlier assessment is sensible if you have diabetes, reduced immunity, or recent ear surgery because complications may need quicker treatment.

Ask whether the pain starts in the ear or is referred from the jaw, teeth, or throat; whether the eardrum looks intact; and whether wax, infection, or pressure is involved. It is also useful to ask which pain relief and ear products are safe for you, whether hearing should be checked, and what changes should trigger a return visit.