Lays and shoots in the ear. What to do if the ear shoots

Shooting ear pain can be observed in every person at any age - in a child and an adult. It brings the same suffering to children and adults as a toothache. The appearance of shooting pains in the right or left ear indicates the development of an acute inflammatory process in the middle section. Shooting pain can be given behind the ear in the head, in the eyebrow, jaw, temple. The process of inflammation of the middle ear is usually unilateral.

Shoots violently in the ear from the left or right side after:

transferred, poorly treated acute respiratory disease(ARI), acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI);
tonsillitis (acute tonsillitis);
inflammation of the maxillary, frontal sinuses (sinusitis, frontal sinusitis);
rhinitis (runny nose),
against the background of a cold with a severe runny nose;
after swimming with head diving or diving: when pressure changes in the middle part of the ear;
traumatic injury to the eardrum.

Treatment should begin immediately so as not to start the inflammatory process!

Be sure to consult with an otolaryngologist. If this is not possible:

for adults - a general practitioner;
for children - a pediatrician.

Today we will look at what can be done and how to treat at home if it shoots hard in the ear, how to help a child or an adult.

Why shoots in the ear: the main reasons

Sinusitis: inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.

Accompanied by symptoms:

runny nose, nasal congestion;
sleep disturbance;
burning in the nose, in the area near the eyes;
shooting sharp pain in the ears;
feeling of fullness in the ear;
nasality;
increase in body temperature;
loss of appetite, fatigue, lethargy.

Sinusitis can be acute or chronic. For home treatment effective methods and treatments are:

inhalations with boiling water and essential oils: inhalation of vapors is carried out through a paper bundle in the form of a funnel;
nasal lavage soda solution, in proportion to 1 glass of water 1 teaspoon of baking soda.

In chronic sinusitis, it is necessary to treat with vasoconstrictor drugs, in fact it symptomatic therapy removing the secondary phenomena of the common cold. Such treatment is possible no more than 3 days.

Otitis: inflammation of the inner (middle) ear.

Its development is provoked by pathogenic microflora and viruses introduced into inner ear with improper strong blowing nose.

Otitis symptoms:

sharp pain in the ear;
feeling of shooting in the ears;
secretion of blood, pus auricle;
partial hearing loss;
nausea;
ear plugging.

During treatment acute otitis media lay in sore ear cotton swab soaked in boric alcohol.

When otitis media is accompanied by high fever, purulent discharge, then be sure to contact an ENT doctor, because it can become very bad. The doctor will prescribe antibiotics and painkillers.

Treat purulent otitis media on your own at home is highly undesirable, you need drug treatment. After all, the focus of infection through purulent fusion of tissues can enter the brain.

Eustachitis: inflammation eustachian tube.

Eustachitis is often a complication of chronic sinusitis. He has the following symptoms:

heightened perception of one's voice;
sensation of rustling and knocking in the ear;
partial hearing loss;
sensation of fluid flowing into the ear cavity.

At home, medications containing phenylephrine are used to treat eustachitis. In parallel, UHF-therapy and MW-therapy are prescribed.

Frontit – acute inflammation frontal paranasal sinus. Develops as a result of influenza, adenovirus infections or acute respiratory infections.

Frontitis is difficult when compared with other forms of sinusitis.

Frontal symptoms:

purulent discharge from the nose and ears;
increase in body temperature;
swelling of the face;
severe headache and ear pain;
Pain in the eyes;
eyelid color change.

One of the options for treating frontal sinusitis at home is naphthyzine ointment. The nasal cavity is lubricated with it, and the nose is also dripped with naphthyzinum. The patient is advised to follow bed rest, take paracetamol to normalize body temperature.

Know that ear pain with frontal sinusitis appears as a complication of the disease, if pain appears, go to the doctor.

Sphenoiditis- inflammation of the sphenoid paranasal sinus. In parallel with ear pain, it sometimes causes general increase body temperature, from the nose a large number of secretions.

Treat it with necessary frequent nasal lavages with antibacterial agents. These procedures are carried out in the ENT room of the clinic, because on their own a person cannot fully rinse the nasal passages himself.

Labyrinthitis- disease inner ear provoked viral infections: influenza, measles, mumps, chickenpox.

It is better to treat labyrinitis (especially for children) with proven medications, because when complicated, it causes serious consequences.

Adults can take auxiliary procedures in the treatment: applying warm compresses to the sore ear.

Shoots in the ear: reasons of a different kind

Along with the main diseases of the ear-nose-throat, it can shoot in the ear for the following reasons:

Shooting after walking in the wind accompanied by symptoms:

headache;
noise in ears;
increase in body temperature.

To eliminate shooting pains in the ear, drip 2-3 drops of boric alcohol 3% into the sore ear, apply a warm compress (even just put your palm on the ear). If after a couple of days the pain does not subside, consult a doctor.

Shooting in the ear due to caries. Usually, the ear pain is throbbing in nature, aggravated by pressure. The source of pain is caries of the outermost posterior teeth, “wisdom” teeth.

To quickly relieve pain at home, prepare a solution: 1 teaspoon of soda, 4 drops of iodine, 200 ml. water. Mix everything and rinse your teeth with the solution three times a day. Helps relieve acute toothache and earache.

Neuritis facial nerve (trigeminal) can lead to earaches, redness of the face and pain when chewing.

With these symptoms, consult a neurologist. It is recommended not to take spicy, sweet food, hot tea or coffee.

Angina heavy may be complicated by otitis media, the occurrence of purulent discharge from the throat and ears. Avoid such complications, and if they appear, immediately contact a therapist, pediatrician, otolaryngologist.

Shooting in the ear: non-medical reasons

It happens that a person begins to shoot in the ear without visible reasons. Causing a symptom:

Airplane flight. drop atmospheric pressure Eustachian tube, which leads to earache.

To relieve ear pain and discomfort during a flight, do one of the following:

yawn more often;
eat during the flight;
swallow saliva more often;
drip vasoconstrictor drops into the nose.

After swimming there may be a sharp pain, noise in the ears. To eliminate them, it is recommended to lie on your side, wait until the flooded water flows out of the ear. You can also jump by tilting your head to the side and putting your hand to your ear.

Do not use cotton swabs, they remove the protective layer of the skin (and it is wet from bathing), which can lead to bacterial diseases auricle.

Pinched nerve inside the ear. With a strong nervous tension, stress can pinch a nerve. special treatment not required as the pinched nerve can heal on its own, but for severe pain put a couple of drops in each ear of essential oil tea tree. Avoid hot and spicy food for a while.

Blockage of the ear. Possible when the ears are rarely cleaned. A person can even partially lose his hearing, which can occur if the ears are not cleaned in time. In this case, a person may partially lose his hearing, hear noise and a strong ringing in the ears.

Moisten a cotton swab with hydrogen peroxide, put it in your ear for 2-3 hours. Sulfur plug soften, stick out of the auditory canal and it can be removed.

Shoots in the ear: what to do at home, how to treat

As you already understood, it is very important to find out true reason shooting inside the ear.

At home, if it shoots in the ear, you can use folk recipes:

Recipe from geraniums:

crush 2 geranium leaves;
put them in a sore ear, leaving for 2 hours;
then, replacing the sheet with a new one, repeat the procedure every 2 hours until the pain subsides.

Recipe from Luke:

take a piece of onion, chop it;
wrap in gauze and put in a sore ear;
leave overnight;
if the pain does not go away, repeat the procedure again.

Recipe from salt:

dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in one glass of water - 200 ml .;
wait for the solution to cool slightly, then put one drop into the affected ear.

Recipe from almond oil(can be replaced with tea tree oil, lavender oil or essential oil sage):

warm up the oil a little;
drip it into a sore ear (2 drops are enough);
repeat the procedure 2 times a day for 3 days.

Means from lemon balm:

take 20 grams of dried lemon balm leaves and infuse them in one glass ethyl alcohol 7 - 10 days in a dark place;
soak a cotton swab in the tincture and place it in the sore ear;
leave for 10-15 minutes (but no longer, so as not to cause a burn).

Means from oils:

heat sunflower oil;
soak a cotton swab in it, place it in a sore ear;
leave it like that for half an hour.

Means from fuck(with purulent discharge from the ears effectively):

clean and chop the horseradish;
squeeze the juice;
put two drops into the affected ear.

Horseradish juice is a strong antimicrobial agent that can eliminate the focus of inflammation in the middle ear.

Shoots in the ear: what to do at home, to prevent complications

To avoid complications, follow preventive measures:

when blowing your nose, alternately pinch each nostril;
do not swim in dirty water;
make sure that in the ear little child foreign objects (peas, beads, insects, glass, small parts) did not fall;
when bathing small children, do not allow water to enter their ears;
it is necessary to promptly treat diseases that lead to complications in ear pain (colds, flu, sinusitis, tonsillitis).

If ear pain is bothering a young child, do this:

Inspect the ear and nose for foreign bodies.
Rinse your baby's nose with salt water.
Put vasoconstrictor drops for children in his nose.
Give an anesthetic syrup (Nurofen) by mouth.
Do warm compress from salt heated in a frying pan, wrapped in a handkerchief.

What children should not do at home if they shoot in the ear:

alcohol and other irritating substances that can damage the skin and cause burns should not be dripped into the child's ear;
do not give the baby antibiotics and other medications on your own (without a pediatrician's prescription).

In general, do not risk treating severe shooting pain in the ear at home, especially in a child. Contact an ENT doctor - an otolaryngologist, a general practitioner or a pediatrician. If this is not possible, use the above recipes and remedies.

What else to do, how and how to treat shooting pain in the ear at home

On the other hand, do not really rely on one folk remedies in the treatment of ears, you can use high-quality pharmaceutical preparations.

Some more ear treatments

Gently clean the ear cavity.
Take the drugs Otinum" or " Otipax". They are used to dissolve earwax. You can also use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Drip any of the available three drops into the ear canal. Lie on your healthy side for 15 minutes.
Remove the wax with an ear stick.

Repeat the procedure several times.

Can be dripped into the ear boric acid(it perfectly warms and relieves pain and backache in the ear), "menovazin", tincture of calendula (claws) or motherwort. This will help warm up the auditory canal, soften sulfur deposits and relieve discomfort and pain.

Has a warming effect camphor oil . You can insert swabs soaked in it into the auricle and the beginning of the auditory canal. Or put three drops of camphor in the ear and cover with a cotton pad ear canal.

Yes, be sure to warm everything that you drip into your ear!

It is highly undesirable to use hot heating pads, if any. purulent inflammation the middle ear can be "earned" very serious complications with a breakthrough of pus into the brain - the result is a brain abscess, meningitis.

Clear your nasal passages drip regularly vasoconstrictor drugs for nasal passages. This will help relieve swelling of the mucous membranes, prevent blockage of the Eustachian tube. The nose must be blown!!! Drops " Naphthyzin», « Nazol», « Galazolin' are suitable for this.

start taking good antibiotics a wide range antibacterial action. If the body cannot cope with the infection, it needs help. Strictly follow the instructions for use medicines, observe the doses and regimens of taking the medicine. Examples of antibiotics:

"Tsiprolet",
"Cefotaxime",
"Ceftriaxone".

For pain relief use:

analgin,
ketorol,
ibuprofen.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs give a good analgesic effect:

"Diclofenac",
"Mefenamic acid"
"Ortofen",
"Indomethacin".

To eliminate puffiness, prevent and eliminate allergies, antihistamines are used:

diazolin,
ketotifen,
loratadine.

Keep your ear warm by wearing a scarf, a hat, or a cotton-gauze bandage.

If the pain in the ear does not go away, even intensifies, then pus has formed in tympanic cavity. To soften the eardrum, pouring a warm soda solution into the ear several times is used. As a rule, the tool helps. Purulent contents break through the membrane and flow out. Do not be afraid - the pain will pass, the membrane will heal. It is impossible for the formed pus to penetrate deep inside and cause complications.

Several simple tips so as not to shoot in the ear:

Temper yourself.
Dress for the weather.
Avoid hypothermia and drafts.
Conduct preventive checkups.

What to do if water gets into your ear while diving

It happens that when diving under water, the trapped water cannot completely drain out of the ears at the end of the bath. Water must be removed, because the inflammatory process may develop.

How to get rid of water in the ear:

Professional swimmers advise tilting your head to the side and shaking it hard. Use the method carefully so as not to damage cervical region spine.
Second option: hold your mouth and nose with your hand, exhale. Then the pressure in the membranes will change and you can hear the "pop" in the ear. At this time, tilt your head and shake it slightly. It's good to have a rubber syringe. Gently insert it into the edge of the auricle and suck out the water. This method useful if this happened to your child.

Why shoots in the ear

The ear, as an organ of hearing, is a set of very fragile structures that capture and transmit sound vibrations from environment, transform them into nerve impulses and transferred to the brain. The organ of hearing is represented by three departments: internal, middle and outer ear. Disruption of the work of one or more departments is the cause of uncomfortable symptoms such as dizziness, ringing, noise, headache.

Complaints of sharp and shooting pains in the ear are quite common. This is enough important symptom, which should not be ignored, as it can signal the onset of a serious illness. There are many reasons for shooting pain in the ear. Therefore, as soon as you feel that you are shooting in your ear, you should immediately seek the advice of a specialist.

The appearance of shooting pain in the ear on the left or right side can be caused not only by diseases of the parts of the organ of hearing, but also by inflammatory processes that affect the throat and nose.

Ear diseases

One of the most common causes of shooting pain in the ear is otitis media.. This is an inflammatory process in one of the departments of the organ of hearing (internal, middle or external). Pathology is accompanied by fever, severe headache and ear pain.

Otitis media is also called labyrinthitis. This is the most dangerous disease which causes shooting pains in the ear and head. It can be diagnosed even in a newborn baby, if during the first trimester of pregnancy, the mother fell ill with rubella.

Ear injury resulting from a blow or a blow to it foreign object may damage the integrity of the eardrum. The result is a shooting pain in the ear that radiates to the head. Untreated otitis media can lead to rupture of the eardrum.

Inflammation of the mastoid process temporal bone, which is located behind the ear, is called mastoiditis. With this pathology, there is a shooting pain in the ear, a throbbing headache, appetite decreases, and insomnia appears.

Other reasons

Angina or acute tonsillitis is common cause shooting pains in head and ear. Wherein infectious disease the tonsils are affected, and there is a sharp pain when swallowing. Pathology is accompanied by high fever, weakness and enlarged lymph nodes.

Acute pharyngitis can cause shooting pain in the ear. This disease is accompanied by acute pain in the throat, which can radiate to the head and ears. Most often, this symptom occurs when swallowing. With pharyngitis, there is fever, sore throat and muscle pain.

Inflammation of the sinuses, such as sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, sinusitis can cause shooting pain in the ear.

Sinusitis strikes paranasal sinuses nasal congestion, loss of appetite and sleep, fever, and shooting pain in the ear that radiates to the head. This pathology most often appears as a complication after an untreated cold or flu.

Frontitis leads to inflammation of the sinuses located in the frontal part of the head. This pathology is more difficult than other forms of sinusitis, as it is accompanied by symptoms such as severe shooting pain in the ears, eyes and head, heat body, swelling of the face and discharge of pus from the ears.

Sinusitis is also a common cause of discomfort. Complications of this disease can affect the organs of hearing and vision, cause shooting pain and purulent inflammation. Pathology can lead to a feeling of stuffy ears and hearing loss.

Any cold manifestations or undertreated acute respiratory infections can lead to shooting pain in the ear. Do not leave this symptom unattended to prevent the development of complications.

Additional causes of lumbago in the ear:

Airplane flight May cause discomfort in the ears. Due to the sudden pressure drop in the ears, it can start shooting without pain.
Water ingress while swimming- if water enters the ear, there may be discomfort congestion-like. At the same time, it shoots in the ear, but does not hurt.
Sulfur plug- clogs the ear canal, which leads to hearing loss, ringing, noise and shooting pain in the ears.
Furunculosis- a purulent inflammatory process, which is accompanied by shooting pain in the ear and redness of the inflamed area.
Neuritis- or a cold nerve, can lead to a sharp shooting pain when chewing, which passes through the face and gives into the ear.
Caries- can provoke shooting pain not only in the jaw, but also along the entire side of the face on which the bad tooth is located. In this case, shooting pain reaches the auricle.
cellulitis of the auricle- leads to redness and swelling. Often, patients complain of shooting pain and a rash behind the ear.

Shooting in the ear - what to do

If you suddenly began to shoot in your ear, you need to contact an otolaryngologist to make a diagnosis and identify the cause of discomfort. The doctor will necessary diagnostics and choose the right treatment.

If the cause of lumbago in the ears is otitis, then the patient is shown rest and antibacterial drugs - Ceftazidime, Amoxiclav, Ciprofloxacin.

If a painful symptom is not accompanied by temperature, then physiotherapy is prescribed: electrophoresis, UHF, ultraviolet irradiation.

With an increase in body temperature to 38-39 degrees, antipyretic drugs are prescribed - Paracetamol, Ibuprofen.

For complex impact prescribe anti-inflammatory ear drops such as Otinum, Polydex, Otipax, or antibacterial drops: Normaks, Tsipromed, Fugentin.

For the use of antibiotics, direct reading, they are not suitable for self-treatment or prevention. Drugs of this class are prescribed only by a doctor after an established diagnosis.

For elimination pain painkillers will help - Aspirin, Ketanov, Nurofen.

Treatment at home

Often, folk remedies are used to eliminate pain in the ear. One of the most common is boric alcohol or 3% solution boric acid. It is used instead ear drops or used to impregnate cotton flagella.

Boric acid is enough strong remedy Therefore, it is not recommended to use it for the treatment of children, as well as other alcohol-containing drugs. To eliminate shooting pain in children, you can use herbal infusions, for example, from chamomile or lemon balm for washing the ears.

For the treatment of adults, alcohol tinctures are more effective.

Melissa tincture

Ingredients:

dried leaves Melissa - 10 gr.
Medical alcohol - ½ cup.

How to cook: Mash dried leaves with a rolling pin and soak in half a glass of alcohol. Let it brew for a day, strain.

How to use: Soak a cotton swab in the tincture, wring out and place in the affected ear for 10 minutes. Apply no more than twice a day.

Result: The tool eliminates discomfort in the organ of hearing, relieves pain syndrome. In the ear it stops shooting, the ringing and extraneous noise disappear.

Compress with chamomile

Ingredients:

Chamomile flowers - 1 tablespoon.
Melilot officinalis - 1 tablespoon.

How to cook: Pour the herbs with a glass of boiling water, let it brew for half an hour, then strain.

How to use: Moisten a piece of gauze folded several times into the infusion. Apply a compress to the sore ear, warm it with cotton wool on top and fix it with a bandage or scarf.

Result: The compress warms the ear area, relieves pain and eliminates the “shooting” in the ears.

You will learn more about ear pain in the video:

Prevention

Compliance with a number of preventive measures will help to avoid the appearance of uncomfortable shooting sensations in the ears and head:

do not sneeze with your mouth closed;
blowing your nose, close one nostril one at a time;
when bathing your baby, keep his head above the water to prevent water from entering the ear canal;
avoid dirty water bodies prohibited for swimming;
use to clean your ears warm water and soft cotton flagella.

What to remember

Due to the high interconnection of the organs of hearing, vision and throat, any ENT disease can be the cause of the appearance of shooting pain in the ear.
A timely visit to the doctor will help to establish correct diagnosis and start treatment on time.
Depending on the cause that caused the discomfort, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory or antibacterial drugs are prescribed.
Treatment with folk remedies is recommended as first aid, but it should not replace conventional medicine.

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There are many reasons for ear pain. Shooting in the ear is often a sign of inflammation of the middle ear - otitis media. On the early stages it is treated at home, in a neglected state, surgical intervention may be necessary.

For home treatment, a doctor may recommend a blue light. Feel the area of \u200b\u200bthe head with your fingers and find the place where the sensations are most unpleasant. Turn on the lamp and warm up the found area. First, leave the lamp at a comfortable distance from the area for 2-3 minutes. Then move closer, increasing the heating temperature of the area, and hold for 2-3 minutes. Move the lamp back to its original position and heat for 2-3 minutes. Repeat the manipulations 8-10 times, it will take about an hour. Put on a thick wool hat and cover your ears. Do not take off your hat for a day, and the pain will pass the next day. Reduces ear pain onion. Put a slice of onion in your ear all night. If the pain persists, leave it there for a longer period. At the same time, drip into the nose onion juice. Repeat the procedure 3 times a day for a month. Geranium will also make you feel better. Remember to twist the leaf of the plant into a tube and insert it into your ear. Change the sheet periodically. The course of treatment is at least three weeks.

Shootings in the ears are treated with compresses. Heat up 2 teaspoons sunflower oil to body temperature. Add a couple of drops of camphor to the oil, mix everything. Twist the gauze into a tourniquet, soak it in oil and insert it into your ear. Repeat the procedure 2 times a day for two to three weeks. Salt compress also relieves pain. Heat the salt in a frying pan, pour it into a canvas bag and apply it to the sore ear.

During treatment, eliminate factors that lead to backfire: dress warmly, eat well, do not visit damp, cold and dusty places. Drink tea and juices in large volumes, take drugs that increase immunity. Stick to bed rest and a vitaminized diet.

The cause of backache in the ears can be not only otitis media. Sharp increase atmospheric pressure often provokes severe pain in the ears. A similar situation occurs during flights. To avoid discomfort, swallow saliva frequently, yawn, or open your mouth wide.

Sharp pains in the ears appear in people who swim a lot - swimmers, divers. Water gets into internal cavities ear and provokes inflammation, so it should be removed. To do this, lay the patient on his side, with the affected ear down. The water must flow naturally. Pour an alcohol-containing preparation, such as boric alcohol, into the ear. It will dry out the cavity and kill germs. Do not remove water from the ear cotton swab or hair dryer. Can be pierced with a stick eardrum, and the hot air of the hair dryer will cause burns.

Acute pain in the ears can appear with pain in the extreme teeth. Consult a dentist, after dental treatment, discomfort will disappear. Temporarily relieves toothache rinsing. To do this, add two drops of iodine and a teaspoon of soda to a glass of water. Rinse your mouth warm water You will get relief after a few treatments. A pinched nerve inside the ear is also accompanied by acute pain. It goes away on its own after a while.

At improper treatment ARVI develops otitis media. Inflammation may be accompanied purulent discharge and high temperature. A disease with complications at home is not treated, the method of treatment is determined by the doctor.

Engage in self-medication acute pain in the ears is dangerous, attempts can lead to irreversible consequences. The patient is only required to eliminate the factors provoking the disease. These include hypothermia, colds, professional hazards.

Ear pain happens to everyone. it unpleasant feeling does not allow you to live in peace, according to the sensations, such pain is comparable to a toothache. I want to get rid of it as soon as possible. most important recommendation in this case will be immediate appeal to the doctor. Only he can ease your pain. Any other means can be used only after consulting with a specialist. You should not resort to folk methods on your own.

Why shoots in the ear: possible causes

What to do with shooting ear pain

What to do in different situations if you get shot in the ear?

If the ear is blocked and shoots.
If the ear is blocked and shoots in the plane, then most likely this is a reaction to a sharp change in pressure. You can try to miss, chew a candy, drip vasoconstrictor drops into your nose. This pain is one of the variants of the norm, it will definitely pass when you land.
If it shoots when swallowing or if the ear hurts and shoots.
If the ear shoots and hurts when swallowing, first of all, you should consult a doctor, he will select a medicine that will kill pathogenic microorganisms in the ear, prescribe physiotherapy, bed rest, and if there is a temperature, he will prescribe an antipyretic. Never try to treat yourself.

With symptoms such as pain when swallowing, it is safe to say that this is otitis media. Otitis happens different forms, this is a very dangerous disease, it is better not to self-medicate and not wait for relief, but immediately seek qualified help.

Also, the ear can shoot through during sore throats and at various inflammatory processes throats. In this case, you should also contact a specialist who will tell you correct method treatment.

How to effectively treat ear pain

Treatment of painful lumbago in the ear can be carried out by various methods:

What can be done if a child shoots in the ear

About what to do when shooting in the ear, in next video Elena Malysheva will tell.

If the malaise is not treated: possible consequences

You will most likely develop purulent meningitis, mastoiditis, inflammation of the nasopharynx. And if you completely refuse treatment, then there is a risk of hearing loss altogether. Therefore, it is better not to hesitate and not self-medicate.

People with complaints that they are shooting in the ear go to the doctors quite often. Shooting pains in the ears can be of varying severity and indicate the presence of various diseases which most often develop in childhood.

Shooting pain often occurs in one ear, less often in both. It can be so intense that it makes it almost impossible to perform any activity.

However, there are means traditional medicine with which you can alleviate the condition at home. However, when combined ear pain with high body temperature, purulent or bloody discharge from the ear, vomiting, dizziness, severe sore throat, swelling around the ears, hearing loss, seek immediate medical attention medical care. From the use of any ear drops, you should refrain from consulting a doctor.

All causes of ear pain can be divided into four main groups:

Diseases of the outer ear.
Pathology of the tympanic septum.
Diseases of the middle ear.
Diseases of the inner ear
Pathology of other organs, in which pain radiates to the ear.

Diseases of the outer ear

Shooting pain can be caused by: pathological processes in the outer part of the ear:

Irritation of the skin of the ear canal caused by minor trauma (for example, attempts to remove earwax with a sharp object).
Inflammation caused by water retention in the ear canal. A warm, dark and humid environment promotes the growth of bacteria and predisposes to the development of a purulent process.
Sulfur cork. Earwax is a part defense mechanism an organism that protects the outer ear from infection. However, if wax builds up, hardens, and forms a plug, it can cause severe shooting pain, especially if it presses against the tympanic septum.
Foreign body. If it gets into the ear canal foreign body it can cause inflammation and pain. Most often, these are any narrow objects with which people are trying to clear the channel of sulfur. These objects can cause not only irritation, but also injure the tympanic septum.

Pathology of the tympanic septum

The tympanic septum separates the ear canal and the middle ear. Its inflammation is called myringitis. The most common causes of miringitis are infectious inflammation and injury.

Diseases of the middle ear

The middle ear is separated from the ear canal by the tympanic septum. It is the location of the nerves involved in hearing. This is a relatively small space, so any cause that increases pressure in the middle ear causes pain.

Otitis media is an infectious inflammation of the middle ear, which is often observed in children. Most often, this disease is caused by viruses or bacteria that have entered the middle ear. Sometimes otitis media becomes purulent, in such cases it is necessary to prescribe antibacterial agents.
Impaired patency of the Eustachian tube, which drains fluid and balances pressure between the middle ear and back throats. If its functions are disturbed, pressure inside the middle ear may increase, which leads to pain.

Diseases of the inner ear

The inner ear consists of the cochlea and the labyrinth, which are responsible for hearing and the sense of balance. With his diseases, the patient often develops dizziness, and pain is observed quite rarely.

Diseases of other organs in which pain radiates to the ear

Shooting pain in the ear can develop due to the pathology of nearby structures:

Inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, located near the external ear canal, which may develop due to injury or arthritis.
Sinusitis (inflammation of the paranasal sinuses), which can lead to increased pressure inside the middle ear.
Dental problems, in which the pain may radiate to the ear area.
Inflammation of the mastoid process (mastoiditis), which is located behind the ear.
Pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat) and tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils).
Inflammation of the thyroid gland.
Inflammation trigeminal nerve, in which the pain extends not only to the ear, but also to the face.

Not all patients who start shooting in the ear need to immediately run to the doctor. The pain very often goes away within a few days. In addition, there are methods by which at home you can improve the patient's condition.

However, you should not rely on traditional medicine if:

The adult patient or child also has other symptoms, such as fever, vomiting, dizziness, strong pain in the throat, swelling around the ears, purulent or bloody issues from the ear canal, hearing loss.
Something is stuck inside the ear canal.
The ear continues to shoot for several days.

How can you relieve a shooting pain in your ear at home?

Most often, ear pain can be relieved at home and with the help of simple means or traditional medicine methods.

Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs

Most doctors recommend using simple pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, for ear pain. Despite the fact that this safe drugs dosage recommendations must be followed. These medicines also help lower body temperature.

The use of any ear drops should be discontinued before consulting a doctor.

Cold or warm compresses

People often use ice packs or hot compresses to relieve ear pain. This procedure can be safely applied to both adults and children. You need to attach an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the sore ear, and after 10 minutes replace it with a warm compress.

Olive oil

One of folk methods earache treatment is olive oil. A few drops of warm oil instilled into the ear canal can safely relieve pain.

Before the procedure, you need to make sure that the temperature of the oil is not higher than body temperature. This will avoid burns of the tympanic septum.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil has antifungal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Its instillation into the ear can reduce pain and discomfort. To reduce irritation, you can mix a few drops of tea tree oil with a small amount of olive oil before the procedure.

Sleep in a certain position

In some positions during sleep, the pain caused by infectious pathology ear, may intensify. It is best to sleep with the affected ear facing up, as this may help to better drain its cavity. It is also useful to raise your head higher during sleep with the help of extra pillows.

Neck exercises

In some cases, shooting in the ear begins due to high blood pressure in the ear canal. You can alleviate the condition with the help of the following exercises:

Sit up straight and place both feet on the ground.
Slowly turn your neck to the right so that your head is parallel to your right shoulder.
Slowly turn your neck to the left so that your head is parallel to your left shoulder.
Raise your shoulders up as if you are trying to touch your ears with them.
These movements should be done slowly, they should be repeated often enough.

Ginger

Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve ear pain. You need to apply its juice around the outer opening of the ear canal, you can not dig it inside.

Garlic

Garlic has antibacterial and pain relieving properties. Ear drops containing garlic help to effectively eliminate pain. At home, you need to soak chopped garlic for several minutes in warm olive oil, then strain. Then the resulting oil can be instilled into the ear canal.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide has been used to treat ear pain for many years. To use it, you need to drop a few drops of peroxide into the affected ear, wait a couple of minutes, and then rinse it with clean water.

The choice of a suitable folk remedy for ear pain that can be used at home depends on the cause of its occurrence. If the ear is infected, using traditional medicine can relieve the symptoms of the disease while the body fights the cause. Many ear infections pass on their own, and clinical picture begins to subside a few days after the onset of the disease.

If shooting starts in a child's ear, it is best to consult a pediatrician first, especially if the child is less than 2 years old. The doctor can recommend which drugs or folk remedies can be used for home treatment. If a sick child has a high body temperature, you should immediately seek medical help.