Ear pain when chewing: common causes

Painful sensations

Pain syndrome can occur in any person, no matter what age. This makes it more difficult to rest and work. The sensation of pain can be the only symptom or manifest itself with other symptoms.

In any case, if your ear hurts when you swallow, you should consult a doctor. Only an experienced otolaryngologist can accurately determine the etiology of the disease thanks to complex diagnostic procedures, and based on this, an effective treatment method can be prescribed.

Causes of ear pain when swallowing

If you suddenly experience terrible ear pain when swallowing, you need to figure out why it appeared.

In case of inflammation of the middle or outer, as well as inner ear - otitis, tubo-otitis, mastoiditis, the internal pressure of the Eustachian tube is disrupted, the mucous membranes swell during inflammation, the situation leads to compression and pinching of the adjacent tissues of the pharynx. Ear hurts when swallowing.

With tonsillitis, the inflammatory process is accompanied by thickening and enlargement of the tonsils and lymph nodes; they put excessive pressure on the ear canals. With every swallow, pain radiates from the throat to the ear.

Laryngitis and pharyngitis are also manifested by swelling of the mucous membranes and muscle tissue of the pharynx and larynx. This affects the compression of the tissues of the hearing organs, as well as nerve-impulse reflexion: when swallowing, pain comes from the throat to the ear.

When you have a runny nose from sinusitis or sinusitis, your ear and throat hurt due to purulent discharge getting into the Eustachian tubes. The development of inflammation leads to stagnation of mucus, dilation of blood vessels, and compression of nerve endings by edematous internal epithelium.

The initial symptom of mumps is ear pain caused by viral or bacterial infection of the parotid salivary glands. It provokes pain in the throat when swallowing.

Otitis

One of the most frequently diagnosed diseases of the human hearing organs is otitis media, against which the described pain can develop.

The disease is manifested by inflammation in the tissues of one of the parts of the ear, which occurs due to infections against the background of colds, viral and bacterial respiratory diseases.

Important! Without adequate treatment, otitis media becomes chronic, leading to partial or complete hearing loss. It is much more difficult to treat the advanced form of the disease, so do not hesitate to get examined if you have pain in the ear area.

Inflammation of ENT organs

Another common reason why it hurts inside or behind the ear when swallowing is inflammatory processes in the ENT organs:

Tonsillitis occurs against a background of hypothermia and weak immunity. The disease in most cases is provoked by streptococci, but sometimes by viruses and chlamydia. The problem is localized in the tonsils and the tissues surrounding them, resulting in a sore throat and pain when swallowing.
Pharyngitis is a disease that affects the mucous membrane of the pharynx. It often occurs as a complication of respiratory disease, rhinitis and provokes pain in the ear area when swallowing and chewing food.

Mumps

Mumps is accompanied by swelling behind the ear.

Mumps is an inflammation of the parotid gland. With the disease, pain in the ear intensifies during swallowing. This is accompanied by a sharp increase in body temperature, swelling behind the ear, weakness and other symptoms of intoxication.

Mumps occurs due to a viral or bacterial infection. It is more common in young children and adolescents under 14 years of age. It is often complicated and can lead to damage to the nervous system and gonads in men.

Injuries of ENT organs

Ear pain when swallowing can occur due to injury. These may include burns, bruises, blows, frostbite, hemorrhages, nasal fractures, and damage to the pharynx by foreign bodies.

Associated symptoms will be hematoma, sharp pain, increased salivation, lacrimation, and mucus discharge from the nose. Frostbite and burns require immediate medical attention. In case of injury to the nose, apply ice and also consult a doctor immediately.

Neoplasms

Ear tumors can be benign or malignant. The main types are fibromas, hemangiomas, osteomas, lipomas. Malignant ones include melanomas, basal cell carcinomas, sarcomas, and adenocarcinomas.

Various ear tumors

Symptoms will differ for each tumor type. The ear does not hurt immediately, but with malignant processes the pain becomes unbearable. Accompanying manifestations will be purulent and bloody discharge, tinnitus, and gradual hearing loss. You are also concerned about general symptoms - loss of appetite, weakness, weight loss.

Pharyngitis

With acute pharyngitis, there is a sore throat and severe pain in the ears. The patient also experiences pain when swallowing, as a result of which the patient refuses to eat food. Hoarseness and dry cough also occur. If the mucous membrane along the back wall of the larynx becomes inflamed, the ear may hurt. An increase in temperature with this disease is extremely rare. Experts believe that pharyngitis occurs against the background of colds.

If a patient develops this disease, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Based on the complaints, he will conduct an inspection. Then he will prescribe treatment, which includes:

Taking antiviral drugs in the form of Kagocel, Arbidol, Tsitovir-3.
Gargling with antiseptic solutions. In the first days of illness, the procedure should be performed up to ten times a day. After two days, the number of rinses is reduced to five to six times.
Rinsing the nasal passages. It is carried out if the patient has a runny nose. For such purposes, use Furacilin solution, sea salt or saline solution.
Dissolving tablets with anesthetic, antibacterial and antiseptic effects.
Irrigation of the throat with antiseptic agents in the form of Cameton, Hexoral, Tantum Verde. The duration of the treatment course is from five to seven days.

Causes

Pain in the ear that radiates to the jaw or cheekbone when swallowing can indicate several reasons:

Otitis;
Inflammatory processes in other ENT organs: tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis;
Neoplasms in the larynx and pharynx;
Mumps. Pain syndrome occurs in response to inflammation and swelling of the salivary glands located near the ears;
Hearing injuries.

Determining the cause of ear pain should only be determined by a specialist. The most common causes of pain should be considered in more detail.

Otitis

According to statistics, the leading cause of pain in the hearing organs during swallowing is inflammation of the middle ear. Pathology occurs against the background of upper respiratory tract infections, influenza or measles. The risk group for the development of otitis includes the following patients:

People with weakened immune defenses;
Patients with a history of chronic pathologies of the nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses;
People with a deviated nasal septum or after a nasal fracture.

Otitis develops after infectious agents enter the middle ear through the eustachian tube during sneezing, improper nose blowing or coughing.

The inflammatory process leads to increased pressure inside the hearing organ and accumulation of fluid in the cavity. When the pathology affects the eardrum, severe pain occurs. The duration of otitis media usually does not exceed 3 weeks.

Pathology provokes the occurrence of the following symptoms:

High temperature up to 38-40°C;
Development of a headache that is pulsating in nature;
Pain when swallowing;
Feeling of stuffiness;
Purulent discharge from the affected ear;
The appearance of an echo during communication;
Hearing loss.

In some cases, after blowing your nose, a person’s condition improves for 2-3 minutes.

About the symptoms of otitis media in our video:

Inflammation of the ENT organs

Quite often, painful sensations in the ears develop against the background of an infection of the pharynx or tonsils. The inflammatory process in this area leads to tissue swelling, therefore, during swallowing, the pain syndrome can reflexively radiate to the hearing organs, and the pain can be localized on the right or left side.

It is important to promptly begin treatment for pharynx diseases so that the infection does not spread through the Eustachian tube to the ears.

Sometimes patients experience pain during swallowing saliva or chewing due to a runny nose, regardless of its origin, sinusitis, or viral infections. The development of the symptom indicates the spread of inflammation to the Eustachian tube and ear; this symptom can especially often be observed in a child.

If eustachitis develops, short-term relief is noted after swallowing. With otitis media, the act of swallowing will only increase the pain.

Other reasons

Pain after swallowing can develop due to laryngeal cancer. Oncopathology leads to long-term pain of varying intensity. Patients note increased fatigue, apathy, weight loss for no apparent reason, and an increase in the size of regional lymph nodes.

The cause of pain can be mumps. An infectious disease provokes the development of swelling behind the ears due to inflammation of the parotid salivary gland, which causes pain in the ear. Mumps occurs against a background of fever, headache, general malaise, swelling of the neck and face on one side.

Epidemic parotitis occurs mainly in childhood, but adult patients can also become infected. In severe cases, the infection causes damage to the nervous system, pancreas and gonads.

Diagnostics

Pain radiating into the ear when swallowing should prompt a person to be examined, because it is rarely an isolated symptom. It is important to carry out diagnosis fully and objectively, carefully studying every aspect of the medical history:

Speed of development. Sudden pain indicates the acute nature of the disease due to: rapidly developing inflammation of the middle ear, injury, or ingestion of a foreign body. If pain appears gradually and increases, then one should suspect the presence of a disease with less dynamic development: inflammation, cerumen, cancer of the lower pharynx, etc.
Intensity of manifestation. Severe pain, its increase, pulsation - all this speaks of OVSU, injury, boil. If the pain is dull and of low intensity, it is worth suspecting diffuse inflammation of the external auditory canal, cerumen plug, the presence of a foreign body, chronic inflammation of the middle ear in exacerbation, dysfunction of the auditory tube and rarely exudative otitis media. If the pain is short and stabbing, a specialist can determine neuralgia.
If there is itching and irritation of the skin, the doctor may identify diffuse inflammation and eczema of the skin of the outer ear. Also, such consequences are caused by sulfur plug, a foreign body inside the hearing organ.

First aid for ear pain

Ear pain does not always force people to consult a specialist, so you should know how to treat otitis media at home.

The main thing is to provide the right help for sharp, shooting, aching pain in the ears, especially if the pain occurs at home and there is no way to see a doctor.

First aid includes the following:

To relieve pain in the ear, you need to take a small piece of gauze, fold it into four layers, cut off the corner in a small semicircle so that when you unroll it you can get a cutout the size of the auricle, and make an alcohol compress.
Then put a down scarf or something warm.
You can add 4-5 drops of bay leaf tincture. To prepare this tincture, take 5-6 sheets and pour boiled water for half an hour.
The passage into the auricle is covered with cotton wool to retain heat.

Causes of ear pain in adults

A cold can cause fluid to accumulate, leading to an ear infection.
If you experience ear pain, do not use ear sticks.
An effective home remedy for ear pain is garlic juice.

middle ear infection
earwax compaction
sinusitis
throat infection
tooth infection

Only an ENT doctor can make an accurate diagnosis of ear pain.

Ear infections in adults are caused by an infection of the eustachian tube, located near the inner ear. This tube balances the pressure inside the ear with the pressure outside, and when fluid or mucus accumulates in it, infection and pain develop.

Even a cold can cause fluid to accumulate, leading to an ear infection.

If you experience ear pain, do not use ear sticks under any circumstances.

This can only worsen the condition #8230;

Ear pain during a flight

Ear pain when chewing, swallowing or yawning

Ear pain is one of the common symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction. The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw to the temporal bone of the skull, and serves as the primary joint responsible for the movement of the lower and upper jaws required to bring them together. Damage to the temporomandibular joint is characterized by sharp pain in the ear, especially when swallowing, chewing or yawning. Another common cause of ear pain is a tooth abscess . Pain in the area of the wisdom teeth also often leads to ear pain. This referred ear pain usually occurs while eating or even just when opening your mouth.

Home remedies for ear pain

Try to sleep on one side with the affected ear on top. This helps relieve any pressure and brings relief.

Take a cotton napkin and soak it in hot water. Hold it near your ear - the warmth from the napkin helps relieve pain.

Chewing gum promotes the movement of the Eustachian tubes. This in turn reduces pressure in the ear and relieves ear pain.

An effective home remedy for ear pain is garlic juice. Lie on your side so that the sore ear is on top, placing a few drops of garlic juice into it.

Heat some olive or mineral oil. Using a pipette, place a few drops into the sore ear. Then place a cotton swab in the ear hole to prevent the oil from leaking out. It also helps to get rid of ear pain.

What doctors say about otitis media (video)

Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational purposes and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional.

Photo: otovent.se, healthyfoodhouse.com

When reprinting site materials, a hyperlink to the site is required.

https://www.vitaminov.net/rus-catalog_zabolevaniy-1637812982-0-25323.html

Treatment methods

The presence of this unpleasant symptom cannot be ignored. First, the otolaryngologist must check whether the eardrum is intact and whether there is pus in the ears. After a thorough diagnosis, appropriate therapy is prescribed.

Drug therapy

If the cause of pain is mild otitis media, the doctor will recommend instillation of drops and the use of warm compresses. If the disease is caused by pathological disorders, antibiotics are used.

The following drugs are prescribed for the treatment of otitis media:

"Sofradex". These drops kill streptococcus and staphylococcus. They are used three times a day, 3 or 4 drops each.
If the eardrum is intact, Otipax is prescribed, 2 drops in each ear for children and 3 drops for adult patients.
"Garazón." Has antiviral and bactericidal properties. The application scheme is the same.
"Anauran." Combines analgesic and antibacterial effect. The product can be instilled 5-6 times a day, 4 drops.

If ear pain when swallowing is the result of inflamed tonsils, treatment is prescribed to target the affected area locally. Drug treatment gives the desired results if combined with physical therapy.

Types of drug treatment depending on the etiology of the disease

You should not overuse self-medication and adopt the experience of friends. Medical statistics show a huge number of examples of premature disability due to incorrect use of medications.

Groups of pharmaceuticals effective for inflammatory infectious diseases of the throat:

antiseptic drugs;
antiviral;
combined agents - antiseptic and anesthetic.

Ear pain relief, first aid

What can you do at home? What is strictly contraindicated?

Doctors usually recommend Otipax drops.

Not until examined by a doctor

bury it in the ear, traditional medicine - there are many ways to warm it up.
It is absolutely unacceptable to do all this before visiting a doctor. There are a number of reasons for this ban. In case of a purulent inflammatory process, hot compresses on the area of the ears and nearby will provoke the activation of pathogenic bacteria and increase the rate of their reproduction. As a result, the patient’s condition will worsen as much as possible due to the spread of inflammation to all nearby tissues of neighboring organs.

If the eardrum has ruptures, punctures, drops will not bring relief. They should not be used without a doctor’s recommendation if there is acute pain in the ear.

How to act

To calm the pain before visiting a doctor, you are allowed to take Ibuprofen, but only a tablet. Doctors' recommendations:

Place vasoconstrictor drops inside the nasal openings: Nazol, Galazolin, Naphthyzin.
The drops will reduce the swelling of the mucous membranes of the eustachian passages, help equalize the pressure, and stop the development of inflammation.
The pain syndrome is partially reduced if you cover the ear with a napkin, protecting it from contact with hair, clothing and wind.
To prevent the development of infection, a sore throat should be rinsed with Miramistin, Chlorophyllipt or saline solution.

A drug	Photo	Price
Ibuprofen	From 15 rub.
Nazol	From 160 rub.
Galazolin	From 37 rub.
Naphthyzin	From 23 rub.
Miramistin	From 218 rub.
Chlorophyllipt	From 115 rub.

It is not recommended to take other medications without a doctor's prescription. Patients need to beware of antibiotics, as they can cause severe allergic shock in a child.

Possible complications

Pain when swallowing may be the first sign of otitis media. Gradually, the painful sensations increase and become unbearable. Consult your doctor as soon as possible to avoid unpleasant consequences.

One possible complication is perforation of the eardrum.

What complications threaten ear pain when swallowing:

meningitis, encephalocele, intracranial abscess;
chronic inflammation with frequent relapses;
hearing loss, up to its complete loss;
closure of the ear canal due to tissue growth behind the eardrum, which leads to hearing impairment;
perforation of the eardrum, pus breaking through it with the formation of a hole that heals within a month.

Causes of ear pain in adults

A cold can cause fluid to accumulate, leading to an ear infection.
If you experience ear pain, do not use ear sticks.
An effective home remedy for ear pain is garlic juice.

middle ear infection
earwax compaction
sinusitis
throat infection
tooth infection

Only an ENT doctor can make an accurate diagnosis of ear pain.

Even a cold can cause fluid to accumulate, leading to an ear infection.

If you experience ear pain, do not use ear sticks under any circumstances.

This can only worsen the condition #8230;

Ear pain during a flight

Ear pain when chewing, swallowing or yawning

Home remedies for ear pain

Try to sleep on one side with the affected ear on top. This helps relieve any pressure and brings relief.

Take a cotton napkin and soak it in hot water. Hold it near your ear - the warmth from the napkin helps relieve pain.

Chewing gum promotes the movement of the Eustachian tubes. This in turn reduces pressure in the ear and relieves ear pain.

An effective home remedy for ear pain is garlic juice. Lie on your side so that the sore ear is on top, placing a few drops of garlic juice into it.

What doctors say about otitis media (video)

Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational purposes and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional.

Photo: otovent.se, healthyfoodhouse.com

When reprinting site materials, a hyperlink to the site is required.

https://www.vitaminov.net/rus-catalog_zabolevaniy-1637812982-0-25323.html

Forecast

Pain in the ear most often occurs as a result of inflammation in the ENT organs, with surgical treatment of which one can speak of a favorable prognosis.

But neglected situations can provoke not only pain in and around the ears, but also damage to the facial nerve, complete deafness, infection of the brain, and, as a result, death.

Labyrinthitis disease

Labyrinthitis is a serious problem with similar symptoms. This is an inflammation that is localized in the inner ear of the auditory organ. As the pathology develops, the following symptoms occur:

nausea;
noise in the ear;
dizziness;
migraine;
problems with coordination;
hearing decreases;
painful sensations in the ears and back of the head;
pain in the ear when chewing.

Pain in the jaw occurs due to the development of an inflammatory process that affects the nerve endings. If the disease has reached the trigeminal nerve, then the toothache will radiate to the organ of hearing, and there is a painful sensation during chewing. If the virus affects the facial nerve, then discomfort not only in the ears, but also in the jaw. During chewing, severe pain occurs. If it appears while opening the mouth, this may indicate that a foreign body has entered the ear or the hearing organ has been injured. The hearing organ can be damaged due to:

pressure drop;
head injury;
frostbite;
burn;
introduction of dust into the ear or small insect.

These are the factors that often provoke an unpleasant sensation in the ear. Under such conditions, the painful sensations are intense and aching in nature. Unbearable pain occurs only if the eardrum is damaged.

Preventive actions

Otitis and other infectious diseases are easier to prevent than to deal with their consequences. The best prevention is to follow the basics of proper nutrition, moderate physical activity and hardening the body in the summer. Naturally boosting your immunity will help you resist viruses and bacteria. Timely vaccinations protect against a number of infectious diseases.

To prevent otitis media from developing in young children, it is necessary to clear mucus from their noses. Older children should be taught how to blow their nose correctly. If you have adenoids, you should not delay their treatment. Following these simple recommendations will significantly reduce the risk of developing diseases, the symptom of which is ear pain.

Possible complications of pain in the ear and swallowing

Adverse consequences of diseases of the ear and throat organs occur in cases of improper self-medication, untimely and incorrect use of medications.

Complications of otitis, tubootitis:

hearing loss or complete hearing loss,
abscess of intracranial tissue, meningitis,
mastoiditis,
partial paralysis of the facial nerves.

Complications of throat diseases:

otitis media and internal,
swelling of the pharynx and larynx,
phlegmon,
purulent abscess.

The cause and consequence of pain in the hearing organs, radiating to the throat, is difficult for the patient to perceive, and pain in the larynx, accompanied by pain in the ear, is cancer.

The causes of cancer are unknown to doctors, and not every doctor is able to make a diagnosis, so if the patient’s home is far from the center, it is necessary for a paramedic - a family practice doctor - to be referred to a regional hospital. Laryngeal cancer today can be effectively treated if the disease is left untreated.