Earaches are a very common condition in humans. Kids are actually more prone to earaches than adults but there is also a contrary opinion that adults do not report earaches as often as kids do. The slight dull or sharp sensation, the burning feeling, pain or ache in the ears are often unbearable for a child and thus kids seem to suffer more from earaches. Regardless of age, gender and overall health of an individual, earaches are uncomfortable and they need to be addressed sooner than later.
Common Cause of Earaches
There are many causes of earaches and the causes have different variants as well. Earaches can be a very seldom development or it may be chronic for some. It all depends on the specific cause of earaches in an individual.
Different Types of Ear Aches
There are two types of causes of earaches. One set of causes directly affect the ear or ears and thus cause the pain. The other set of causes affects organs or areas around the ears and thus indirectly causing the pain and the symptoms.
The most common causes of earaches are any type of fluid buildup inside the ears, common cold and infection. The fluid building up may be plain water or it may be some other type of liquid and even bodily fluids. These fluids can affect the eardrum which would then become slightly swollen or become moist. Eventually, the eardrum would have to be cleansed of the fluid to cure the earaches.
There can be various types of infections causing an earache. You may have an ear canal infection, there may be a boil inside the ear which could or may have burst, a hair follicle may be infected due to some reason or there can be some tissue inflammation inside the ear. All these can cause earache in one ear or both the ears. Physical injury and trauma of any nature that is severe enough can cause earache as well. Sharp objects when poked into the ears can damage the eardrum or the sensory organ may become overly sensitive as a result. Any type of blockages of earwax or some foreign material getting accumulated inside the ear or ears can also cause earache.
Conditions that are not exactly in the ear but can cause earaches include pain in the jaws, infections in the throat or nasal cavity, dental conditions, neural pain in the face and neck or in the head among others.