Associated symptoms

Too much or hardened earwax can cause irritation. External ear canal inflammations caused by earwax usually first become noticeable by an itching at the ear. In the further course of time, it can sometimes lead to very severe pain.

In addition to the ear pain, chewing can be painful. The pain can be so severe that it is difficult to open the mouth. Here one speaks of a so-called jaw clamp.

The ear secretion can flow out of the ear. If the inflammation of the ear canal is caused by bacteria, purulent, foul-smelling secretion can run out of the ear. This usually leads to hearing problems.

Due to an inflammatory process in the body, the lymph nodes may swell. An inflammation of the ear canal can also cause fever. In addition, the earwax can cause dizziness and ringing in the ears.

As a rule, earwax hardly smells or not at all. In larger quantities and in sensitive noses, however, the earwax can smell unpleasant. But if the secretion from one or both ears is very bad smelling, it can be a purulent ear discharge.

This consists of living and dead immune defense cells, the so-called granulocytes, body cells and bacteria. Pus indicates inflammatory processes. A purulent ear discharge can indicate an inflammation of the external auditory canal caused by bacteria or a purulent middle ear infection and should be examined by a doctor.

Diagnosis

To find out the reason for the hearing loss, the doctor will first conduct a specific interview. He will also take a close look at both ears, comparing them from the outside. Then he will check the pressure pain on the so-called tragus and the pulling pain on the auricle.Furthermore, he looks inside the ear with an ear mirror and can thus observe the external auditory canal and the eardrum.

Here he can assess the earwax and the condition of the eardrum and detect possible redness and swelling. The doctor will also perform a hearing test. A smear is taken from the earwax or existing secretion if an inflammation is suspected. This is examined in the laboratory to determine the pathogen. In addition, a blood test can be used to detect a possible inflammation in the body.