Ear pain (otalgia) can be a common problem for adults and children alike. However, children are much more prone to developing ear pain than adults because of the anatomy of their developing ear structure.

Ear pain is not a disease, but rather a symptom that can result from numerous causes. It is important to identify the underlying cause of ear pain, rather than simply taking antibiotics or analgesics to alleviate the pain.  

The ear can be anatomically divided into three main areas – the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. They all work together to provide proper hearing and balance.  The outer ear captures sound waves, which are converted to vibrations (energy) and then are passed to the inner ear. The inner ear, in turn, converts the energy into nerve impulses, which then travel to the brain.

The middle ear has a small canal that opens up in the back of the nose. This tiny passageway is known as the eustachian tube. Its purpose is to equalize pressure between the middle ear and the surrounding environment. At times, bacterial or viral infections develop by spreading through this eustachian tube into the middle ear. When this occurs, the infected area may fill with pus or fluid and lead to a buildup of pressure, which causes pain and sometimes a temporary loss of hearing.

Ear pain can have a direct cause or an indirect cause (pain from another region of the body is referred to the ear). For instance, direct causes of ear pain may include acute otitis externa (swimmer’s ear), which occurs when water becomes trapped inside the external portion of the ear canal resulting in inflammation, or injury to the ear (e.g., from use of cotton swabs). Indirect causes of ear pain may include dental problems, tonsillitis or sinusitis.

It is not uncommon to have associated symptoms, such as vertigo, disequilibrium or dizziness, with ear pain in adults.