We study and treat our ears. What to do if the ear is sore or other parts of the ear.

The human ear is the source of the perception of the surrounding information, sounds. The basis of the ear structure is the middle, inner and outer ear. The outer ear consists of such parts: the external auditory canal, the auricle, the tympanic membrane. The latter separates the outer ear from the middle ear .

The middle ear is enclosed in the temporal cranial bone. It consists of a tympanic cavity, mastoid process and eustachian tube.

The inner ear is a system of complex ramifications from the semicircular canals. Certain of them support our balance. The so-called snail transforms the external sound into an internal impulse entering the brain. All these impulses are perceived and decoded by the head hemispheres.

Causes of an earache. Why does the auricle hurt?

The appearance of pain symptoms can occur from a variety of inflammatory processes, or pain can manifest itself reflexively. The latter often happens in otitis, sinusitis and tonsillitis, which are acute or chronic diseases. If the auricle or one of the cervical spas is injured, it can cause one of the types of otalgia (non-pathological ear pain). Most often, otalgia is found in elderly patients.

Other causes of ear pains are associated with bruises and hypothermia. In addition, almond inflammation, sinusitis and the pathology of the jaw also cause pain. With a comprehensive hospital examination, both the ear and the cervical spine, as well as the head, you can thoroughly establish the cause of the pain symptom. For example, in the diagnosis of external otitis, the passage of the external ear becomes inflamed or the cartilage that the auricle possesses is deformed. As a rule, the cause of the disease is a bacterial infection.

The degree of intensity of the earache can be different. For example, a sharp, aching or pressing pain. We have already mentioned the external otitis. That is, when pressing on the tragus of the ear pain is given to the external auditory meatus, and the auricle begins to ache. If the pain is sharp and shooting, and the body temperature exceeds normal, the otitis media is likely to progress.

If a viral infection enters the middle ear, which often happens in children, there is a reason to diagnose acute otitis media of the middle ear. In adults, this disease is less common because of the longer eustachian tube size.

What symptoms of otalgia cause ear inflammation

In the otalgia caused by ear infection, the following side effects are manifested:

• There is insomnia
• The body temperature rises, fever may occur.
• Often dizzy. The functioning of the vestibular apparatus is disrupted.
• Ear discharge in the form of a brownish or white liquid.
• Auditory disorders associated with overflow of the middle ear with an ear liquid.

Disease detection and treatment

Before appointing treatment, an experienced specialist conducts a comprehensive examination of the ears. If necessary, additional diagnostics are carried out, such as head and neck imaging, audiometry. To determine the extent and type of the disease, the otoscope is used. Otoscopy helps to detect violations of the external auditory canal and inflammatory infections. If, for example, the auricle is swollen or the eardrum is inflamed, it can be detected with the help of an otoscope. Also, the device determines the amount of the ear fluid.

Treatment is associated with the type of disorder or infection. The main thing in time is to seek medical help. In the course of treatment, mainly, antibiotics are used, if necessary, medicines for lowering temperature and painkillers.