Adult Earaches Usually Stem From More Than an Ear Infection
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Though an earache might be something most people remember from childhood, adults are not immune from them.
Ear pain in adults is less likely to be caused by an ear infection than ear pain in children.
In adults, the pain is more likely caused by one of a variety of issues:
- Arthritis of the jaw
- Buildup of ear wax
- Ear injury from pressure changes (from high altitude and other causes)
- Hole in the eardrum
- Long-term ear infection
- Object stuck in the ear
- Short-term ear infection
- Sinus infection
- Sore throat
- Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
- Tooth infection
Symptoms of an earache can include pain, fever, ear drainage, nausea, and vomiting.
When an adult has an earache, it’s important to treat the root cause of the problem, even if that problem isn’t directly related to the ear, such as arthritis of the jaw.
If you experience ear pain that doesn’t go away or gets worse within 24 to 48 hours you should call your doctor’s office.
Also call your doctor if you have severe pain that suddenly stops. This could be a sign that your eardrum has ruptured.
The type of earache you have determines the best treatment:
- For a general earache. Take over-the-counter pain relievers, rest in an upright position instead of lying down, and put a cold pack on the outer ear for 20 minutes
- For ear pain from pressure change. Swallow hard or chew gum
- For earaches caused by other medical issues. Visit your doctor to determine the best treatment on a case-by-case basis. This includes causes such as excess wax buildup, object in ear, sinus infection, sore throat, and tooth infection.
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Source: National Institutes of Health
