Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Primary Otalgia (Pain Originating in the Ear)
Number of Conditions: 3
Otitis Media
Specialty: Ear
Category: Ear Pain (Otalgia)
Sub-category: Primary Otalgia (Pain Originating in the Ear)
Symptoms:
ear pain; fever; difficulty hearing; fluid drainage from the ear; irritability (in children); feeling of fullness in the ear
Root Cause:
Infection or inflammation of the middle ear, often caused by bacterial or viral pathogens, frequently following upper respiratory infections.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation, including otoscopic examination showing bulging or reddened tympanic membrane, and occasionally tympanometry.
Treatment:
Treatment includes observation for mild cases, antibiotics for bacterial infections, and pain management. Severe or recurrent cases may require myringotomy or tympanostomy tubes.
Medications:
Antibiotics such as amoxicillin are first-line treatments for bacterial infections. In cases of penicillin allergy, cephalosporins or macrolides (e.g., azithromycin ) may be used. Analgesics like ibuprofen or acetaminophen are used for pain relief.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in children under the age of 5; approximately 80% of children experience at least one episode by age 3.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Young age, attending daycare, exposure to tobacco smoke, allergies, and upper respiratory infections.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Most cases resolve with appropriate treatment, but recurrent infections may lead to complications or require surgical intervention.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hearing loss, tympanic membrane perforation, mastoiditis, or cholesteatoma.
Otitis Externa
Specialty: Ear
Category: Ear Pain (Otalgia)
Sub-category: Primary Otalgia (Pain Originating in the Ear)
Symptoms:
ear pain; itching in the ear canal; redness and swelling of the ear canal; drainage of clear or pus-like fluid; difficulty hearing (due to swelling or blockage)
Root Cause:
Inflammation or infection of the external ear canal, often caused by bacterial pathogens (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus) or fungal overgrowth in a moist environment.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through clinical history, physical examination with otoscopy revealing an inflamed or swollen ear canal, and potentially swab cultures for resistant cases.
Treatment:
Cleaning of the ear canal, topical antibiotic ear drops, and pain management. Antifungal drops may be required for fungal infections.
Medications:
Topical antibiotics like ciprofloxacin or neomycin-polymyxin B drops are used. For fungal causes, clotrimazole or acetic acid drops may be prescribed. Oral analgesics such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may also be recommended.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in swimmers and individuals exposed to water frequently; affects 4–6% of the population annually.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Frequent swimming or water exposure, use of hearing aids, ear trauma (e.g., using cotton swabs), and humid climates.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Resolves with appropriate treatment, but recurrence can occur without preventive measures.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic otitis externa, cellulitis, or, in severe cases, malignant otitis externa (more common in immunocompromised individuals).
Foreign Body or Trauma
Specialty: Ear
Category: Ear Pain (Otalgia)
Sub-category: Primary Otalgia (Pain Originating in the Ear)
Symptoms:
sudden ear pain; hearing loss; bleeding or drainage from the ear; foreign object visible in the ear canal; tinnitus
Root Cause:
Physical injury or the presence of a foreign object in the ear canal causing irritation, inflammation, or damage to the tympanic membrane or surrounding structures.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Visual inspection using an otoscope; imaging (e.g., X-ray or CT scan) for severe trauma or deep foreign objects.
Treatment:
Removal of the foreign object by a healthcare professional, irrigation (if safe), and managing trauma-related symptoms with analgesics and, if necessary, antibiotics.
Medications:
Analgesics like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief. If there is a risk of infection or signs of it, topical or systemic antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin or fluoroquinolones) may be prescribed.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in children and individuals using in-ear devices; specific prevalence varies based on age and activities.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Young age, using small objects near the ear, and engaging in high-risk physical activities without ear protection.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with prompt treatment, though severe trauma can have lasting effects on hearing or balance.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Tympanic membrane perforation, otitis externa, hearing loss, or, rarely, deeper injuries leading to vestibular or cranial nerve damage.