What should you know about ear pain due to a cold?

Swelling around the nose and throat can stop the middle ear from ventilating normally. Pressure or fluid may then cause aching, fullness, popping or muffled hearing. A cold is one possible cause; sinusitis, tonsillitis, earwax buildup and a middle-ear infection can also produce ear discomfort. An earache does not by itself identify the cause.

Rest, drink fluids and use a warm—not hot—cloth over the outer ear for comfort. Saline nasal rinses may help congestion if used safely. Follow label directions for any suitable pain medicine and check with a pharmacist if you are pregnant, have a long-term condition or take other medicines. Do not put cotton buds, oil or unprescribed drops into the ear. Antibiotics are not useful for every cold-related ache; a clinician decides whether infection treatment is needed.

Arrange medical review if pain is severe, lasts beyond the cold, keeps returning, or comes with hearing loss, fluid from the ear, dizziness or swelling around the ear. Seek urgent care for severe headache, facial weakness, confusion, or a very unwell child. A clinician can examine the ear and distinguish infection from congestion or wax.

Ask whether the eardrum looks inflamed or has fluid behind it, whether your hearing needs checking, which pain relief is suitable for you, and what change should prompt a follow-up visit.