Introduction
Pain in the ear often occurs in many people with a cold. In most cases, a cold occurs first, followed by slight pain and later by inflammation of the middle ear. The ear pain is often described as pulsating or pressing. They can be very annoying for those affected, as hearing loss also sets in early. It is also not uncommon for a permanent feeling of a closed and muffled ear to develop, which is often asymmetrically strong on both sides.
Why do earaches and colds occur so often simultaneously?
Earache is a common symptom accompanying a cold. Many people have an increased risk of suffering from earache when they have a mild infection. Likewise, other people with the common cold may have a tendency to watery eyes or a sore throat.
Blame for these individual disease factors is the personal anatomy. The middle ear is connected to the upper throat via the so-called “Tuba auditiva”, the auditory trumpet. This ear trumpet is about 3.5 cm long on both sides in an adult.
Its length can vary with the shape of the head, making infections of the middle ear easier or more difficult. In children, the ear trumpet is even shorter and thus promotes middle ear infections. During a cold, the pathogens can spread via the throat into the Eustachian tube and carry the germs into the middle ear.
Initially, slime in the trumpet creates the feeling of a closed ear with a feeling of pressure. If the bacteria spread further, the pain follows. Both the development and the treatment are therefore closely related, which means that when the cold improves, the ear pain usually subsides.
Treatment
A cold with earache and other accompanying symptoms does not need to be treated in most cases. Most complaints are due to infections with cold viruses. Antibiotic therapy does not work in these cases.
Only a symptomatic therapy to alleviate the symptoms and complaints can be applied to ease the time to cure. Painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs and antipyretic agents can be taken. Likewise, many suitable home remedies can be used to soothe the mucous membranes and also perform anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving tasks.
However, the most important therapeutic steps of the common cold consist of warmth and protection, as well as a sufficient supply of fluids. Less frequently, colds can also be more persistent. After about a week, a medical consultation should be made to rule out bacteria as the cause of the illness.
Indications of a bacterial infection are yellow-greenish mucus, longer duration of the illness and severe impairment of the general condition. In these cases, antibiotic therapy may be necessary to combat the pathogens more effectively. In the case of a cold involving the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, various substances can be inhaled and contribute to healing.
In addition to medical inhalations, household remedies and natural substances can be used. Typical mixtures consist of salt water, anti-inflammatory herbs such as camomile or sage and essential oils. The liquids must be heated up to boiling point and the rising steam must then be inhaled.
For better inhalation, a cloth should be placed over the head so that fewer vapors can escape. The purpose is to moisten dry or mucous membranes with water dissolved in the steam. This allows the mucus to be loosened and flow off better.
Especially in the case of earache, the loosening of mucus can improve the situation, as the ear trumpet can be ventilated again. The herbs or essential oils additionally inhibit inflammation of the mucous membranes. Only rarely should medication be used for a cold with earache.
Since the disease is mostly caused by viruses, there are few possibilities of a causal therapy. Only the symptoms can be treated with painkillers and decongestants on the mucous membranes. In the case of high fever and pain, drugs from the NSAID group, for example ibuprofen or diclofenac, can initially have a pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effect.Decongestant nasal sprays can be used to ventilate the nose.
In the acute case of a cold, nasal sprays can promote the outflow of mucus and promote healing, but beyond that they should not be used permanently. In the case of very persistent colds with earache or accompanying symptoms of the bronchial tubes and upper respiratory tract, a bacterial cause may be underlying. In these cases, a targeted therapy with antibiotics determined by a doctor must be carried out.
For a cold, household remedies can in many cases replace medication and medical treatment. The immune system is almost always able to fight the cold itself, except in the case of particularly persistent pathogens or immune deficiencies. Household remedies can support the immune system and relieve symptoms such as fever, pain and stuffy nose.
The most important home remedies in the fight against the common cold include above all sufficient water, vitamins, healthy and sufficient food, bed rest and sleep. Inhalations can also be used to moisten and mucus loosen the respiratory tract. Also hot soups, herbal and fruit teas, and hot lemon have the purpose to supply liquid and vitamins, promote sweating and inhibit inflammation.
If the cold still does not improve after more than a week, a visit to the doctor with a more detailed investigation of the causes is often unavoidable. Homeopathic remedies can be taken to help with a cold with earache. They are intended to stimulate the body’s self-healing powers and provide it with the necessary information to fight the pathogens. The most important remedies used for a cold are “Belladonna“, “Nux vomica“, “Phosphorus“, “Aconitum” and “Bryonia”. To treat an exact combination of the symptoms of the common cold with the right homeopathic remedy, a professional homeopath should be consulted.
