Diagnosis | Earache

Diagnosis

If you want to consult a doctor because of earache, you can first consult your family doctor. If necessary, he will refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist. The doctor will first take an anamnesis, during which the patient has the opportunity to describe his or her symptoms.

The time course, pain intensity and pain quality as well as any accompanying symptoms should be described in detail. The consultation is usually followed by a physical examination, which focuses on the head and neck area. The doctor will inspect the oral cavity with a spatula and flashlight and palpate the local lymph nodes.

The examination of the ear itself will be done using an ear funnel and otoscope. The ear funnel is inserted into the outer part of the ear canal and allows a clear view of the eardrum. The otoscope, which resembles magnifying glasses, can be used to inspect the ear canal and eardrum.

Both ears are always examined. If there is discharge, smears can be taken for microbiological examination. A blood sample is taken to complete the examination.

It is checked whether certain inflammation parameters in the blood are elevated. For certain diseases, the doctor may order an X-ray examination. Among these diseases are rather rare, chronic inflammations of the ear, which can sometimes attack the bone substance of the skull.

Duration

Most ear diseases are uncomplicated and do not require lengthy treatment. In the case of inflammation of the external auditory canal, there is a significant improvement after only a few days with adequate therapy. The disease should heal completely after about 1-2 weeks.

Inflammation of the middle ear also rarely lasts longer than two weeks. However, both diseases have persistent and complicated courses, which can take a long time to heal. Middle ear infections in particular have chronic forms that can take a long time to heal. Otitis media chronica epitympanalis sometimes involves the skull bone. In this case an operation is necessary, which is connected with a long aftercare.