Definition
Pain in the area of access to the ear is known in medical terminology as otalgia and in most cases indicates a disease of the ear. A distinction is made between primary and secondary ear pain. Primary ear pain is a pain that originates directly from the ear, while secondary pain can also radiate from other nerves to the region of the ear.
Symptoms
Since the ear is a very fine and sensitive organ with numerous nerves that transmit pain, complaints in this area are often very unpleasant. If the pain in the ear canal entrance is caused by inflammation, further symptoms such as swelling, redness and overheating of the ear occur. Depending on the cause of the inflammation, various skin symptoms can also occur.
In addition to redness, the skin in the entrance to the ear can be very dry, flaky and also discolored with spots. With a progressive necrotizing inflammation, the tissue increasingly dies off and the skin turns black accordingly. Further complaints can be itching, discharge, pus and also a feeling of pressure on the ear. If the auditory canal is severely obstructed or the external inflammation also spreads to deeper regions of the ear, the hearing ability may also be reduced.
Causes
Pain in the entrance of the ear can be caused by many different factors. One possibility is obvious injuries such as bruises, cuts and even abrasions. They can be caused by accidents.
However, one of the most common causes is inflammation of the external auditory canal, which can spread to the entrance of the ear. In ear, nose and throat medicine, the inflammation of the external auditory canal is called Otitis Externa. It can be associated with a severe cold or be triggered by other factors.
It is also subdivided into different forms depending on its cause. There is the phlegmon in the auditory canal (otitis externa diffus) or a boil (otitis externa circumscripta). There is also a very severe form of inflammation in which the skin in the ear canal increasingly begins to die off (necrotizing).
Inflammations in the auditory canal adjacent to the auricle can be triggered by injuries to the fine skin. It is not uncommon for injuries caused by foreign bodies to also include cotton swabs. Even small cracks and lesions in the skin have the risk of being contaminated by bacteria.
In addition to a bacterial infection, allergies or other skin diseases such as neurodermatitis or even autoimmune diseases can lead to diseases of the ear, which are accompanied by pain at the entrance to the auditory canal. Herpes zoster can also develop on the ear and cause a severe inflammation with pain. Other possible causes include tumors that spread from the inner ear.
The aforementioned triggers for pain in the ear are primary causes that originate directly from the ear. Secondary causes can be transmitted from other areas of the head to the ear via corresponding nerve fibers and lead to pain. One of the most common causes is dental treatment.
Inflammation of teeth or even the extraction of a tooth can irritate nerves from the immediate surroundings to such an extent that pain is transmitted to the ear. The situation is similar with other infectious diseases such as tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils) or mumps and measles. In the latter case, the parotid glands swell up and can hurt and also affect the ear.
