Parents know how common earaches are in children, but adults can get frequent ear pain, too. You don’t have to have an infection or anything wrong with your ears to have ear pain.
Many things can cause ear discomfort.
Earwax
Your ear makes and gets rid of wax all the time. When the process doesn’t work well, the gunk builds up and hardens so your ear canal gets blocked. Your doctor will call this impacted wax. Sometimes, it causes pain.
Don’t use cotton swabs or other objects to try to get wax out. You'll just push it farther into your ear canal, making it more likely to get impacted. Your ear might hurt, itch, discharge gunk, or get infected. You could even lose your hearing for a while.
You can treat mildly impacted ears at home with over-the-counter ear drops that soften the wax so it can naturally drain. You can see your doctor if the wax has hardened. A doctor can get the wax out without damaging the eardrum. Learn more about earwax.
Air Pressure
Most of the time, your ear does a great job of keeping pressure equal on both sides of your eardrum. That little pop you feel when you swallow is part of the process. But quick changes, such as when you’re on an airplane or in an elevator, can throw off the balance. Your ear might hurt, and you could have trouble hearing. This is typically a eustachian tube dysfunction, which can be chronic in some people.
To avoid problems on a plane:
- Chew gum, suck on hard candy, or yawn and swallow during takeoff and landing.
- Stay awake while the plane descends.
- Take a deep breath, pinch your nostrils shut, then gently try to blow air out of your nose.
- Avoid air travel and diving when you have a cold, sinus infection, or allergy symptoms.
Learn more about air pressure and your ears.
Swimmer’s Ear
If your ear hurts when you pull on your earlobe or push on the tiny flap that closes it, you probably have this outer ear infection. You get it when water trapped in your ear canal begins to breed germs. Your ear might get red, swollen, itch, and leak pus. It isn’t contagious. To avoid it, keep your ears dry during and after swimming. Your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotic ear drops to clear it up. Learn more about swimmer's ear.
Middle Ear Infection
Many conditions can block the tubes in your middle ear. When fluid builds up and gets infected, your doctor will call it otitis media -- middle ear infection. This is the most common cause of ear pain. If your doctor thinks the cause is a bacterial infection, you may get a prescription for antibiotics. Other possible treatments include a decongestant allergy treatment with an antihistamine and a nasal steroid. Let the doctor know if your pain doesn’t improve or returns. If it isn't treated, a middle ear infection can spread or cause hearing loss. Learn more about ear infection treatments.
Common Cold
One of the most frequent cold symptoms is nasal congestion. The viral infection that causes the common cold can also make your eustachian tubes swell, blocking your middle ear and allowing fluid to build up. That can lead to ear pain as well as middle ear infection.
Sinus Infection
This condition, also called sinusitis, happens when your nasal passages become inflamed. This often happens because of the virus that causes the common cold.
When your sinuses become inflamed and swollen, mucus can't drain the way it should. This can cause pain in your ears. It also can cause a buildup of fluid that leads to a middle ear infection.
Allergies
Allergies also can cause the kind of congestion that blocks your middle ear. This can cause ear pain or a middle ear infection.
An allergic reaction can also cause excess earwax, which may block your ear.
Tonsillitis
If your earache comes with a severesore throat, it could be an infection such as tonsillitis or pharyngitis. In fact, ear pain is often the worst symptom of one of these conditions.
Your tonsils are two pads of flesh at the back of your throat. Both viruses and bacteria can cause infection of your tonsils, or tonsillitis.
Pharyngitis is the official medical term for a sore throat. It's usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Learn more about sore throat symptoms.
Dental Pain
Sometimes, the pain in your ear has nothing at all to do with your ear.
Dental issues can be a source of ear pain. Those include:
Your doctor will be able to tell if your teeth are to blame by tapping on a tooth or your gums to see if they feel sore. Learn more about toothaches.
Temporomandibular Joint Issues
The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the “hinge” of your jaw that sits directly below your ears. You might get TMJ pain from grinding your teeth, or it could be a symptom of arthritis. The ache in your ears or face comes after you chew, talk, or yawn. To treat it, take over-the-counter pain medicine and put warm compresses on your jaw. Try not to clench your teeth. You may benefit from using a mouth guard when you sleep. This can help ease the tension that causes ear pain. Eating soft foods will help, too.
Other Causes
Some causes of ear pain can be serious, such as tumors or infections, including cellulitis or shingles.
If your ear pain is severe, doesn’t go away within a few days of home treatment, or comes with a high fever or sore throat, or you get a new rash, visit your doctor right away for treatment to rule out something more serious.
Takeaways
Earaches are common in children, but adults too can have ear pain. The cause of the pain might be an infection of your middle ear, or it might be related to a viral or bacterial infection. Other possible causes of ear pain include dental issues and problems with the joint in your jaw. To get relief, you'll need to figure out the source of your ear pain.
FAQs about Why Your Ear Hurts
Why does the inside of my ear hurt when I touch it?
In children, the most common cause of ear pain is an ear infection. Adults are less likely to get ear infections. If your ear hurts when you touch it, you may have an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus or bacteria. Other possibilities are allergies, dental issues, or a problem with your jaw.
Can ear pain be fatal?
Ear infections often clear up on their own with no treatment. Rarely, they cause long-term complications. An untreated infection or one that doesn't respond to treatment can spread to your brain tissue or the covering of the brain, called the meninges. This complication is rare but potentially life-threatening.
What are the home remedies for ear pain?
If you've also got a cold, allergies, sinusitis, or a sore throat, taking medicine to treat that condition will help improve your ear pain. Here are other things you can try:
- A warm compress on your ear
- A cold compress on your ear
- An over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Alter how you sleep. If your left ear hurts, sleep on your right side.
- Relax your neck. Tight neck muscles can make the pain worse. Try rolling your neck from side to side, or shrugging your shoulders.
- An over-the-counter ear drop. You can find ear drops for pain, swimmer's ear, and wax buildup.
When should I consult a doctor for ear pain?
Sometimes, ear pain goes away on its own. You should talk to a doctor if:
- Symptoms last more than a day
- A child younger than 6 months is showing symptoms of ear pain
- Your pain is severe
- Fluid, blood, or pus comes out of your ear
- A baby or toddler has symptoms of an upper respiratory infection that makes them irritable or sleepless
