Often, patients of an otolaryngologist complain that their ear hurts and itches. There are many reasons for this condition. Itching and swelling can be felt when the ear canal is blocked with a sulfur plug or when water enters the ear. In these cases, the problem is easily solved. It is enough to clean the ear canal, as the discomfort immediately stops. However, often itching and pain can be signs of pathologies of the organ of hearing. Next, we will look at the most common causes of this phenomenon.
Allergy
When an allergic reaction often hurts and itches inside the ear. Cosmetics can provoke irritation: shampoos, shower gels, soaps. It is quite common to be allergic to nickel, which is used in ear jewelry.
Itching and discomfort in the ear accompanied by reddening of the skin and conjunctiva, andalso runny nose and lacrimation. Such phenomena usually disappear after taking antihistamines: Suprastin, Tavegil, Dimedrol, Claritin.
Otitis media
Otitis is an inflammatory process in the ear cavity, which is most often caused by staphylococci and pneumococci. Such a pathology can occur in two forms:
- Otitis externa. Inflammation affects only the ear canal and auricle. The patient itches and hurts the ear, the mucous membrane is inflamed and hyperemic. There is a ringing in the ears, a persistent increase in temperature to subfebrile numbers is possible.
- otitis media. This disease is much more severe. The inflammatory process extends to the middle parts of the organ of hearing. The patient has a feeling of fullness and shooting pain deep in the ear. Unpleasant sensations radiate to the temple area. There is a discharge of pus from the ear canal and constant itching. Often a person's hearing deteriorates.
If you have otitis media, you need to take a course of antibiotic therapy. Prescribe antibiotics in the form of oral tablets and ear drops.
Otomycosis
This disease is an inflammatory process in the organ of hearing. With otomycosis, a person’s ear itches unbearably and hurts inside. The cause of the pathology is the yeast fungus Candida, which causes thrush.
Manifestations of a fungal infection of the ear resemble the symptoms of bacterial otitis media. A hallmark of otomycosis is the expiration ofear canal of cheesy white discharge. The disease develops as a complication of otitis media, as well as due to poor hygiene and prolonged use of antibiotics.
When examining the ear, you can notice hyperemia and white crusts in the ear canal. Fungal infection is prone to spread. The inflammatory process can pass to the bone tissue and the inner ear. Otomycosis is treated with special antifungal antibiotics.
Labyrinthite
Labyrinthitis is an inflammatory process in the inner ear. This part of the organ of hearing is responsible for balance. The first sign of the disease is severe dizziness and incoordination. Approximately a day after vestibular manifestations, pain, itching and tinnitus appear. Unpleasant sensations are aggravated by head movements and are accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Many patients have hearing loss.
What to do if the patient is dizzy and at the same time the ears hurt and itch inside? What is the treatment for labyrinthitis? This disease, like otitis media, is bacterial in nature. Therefore, it is necessary to prescribe antibiotics. Antiemetics are used as symptomatic therapy.
SARS
At the onset of a viral cold, the patient often has a sore throat and itchy ears. Usually SARS begins with an unpleasant scratching in the nasopharynx, and then the inflammation moves to the throat area. These ENT organs are closely interconnected with the ear canal. Therefore, a feeling of slight itching and pain extends to the ear area. Whereinpatients also have other symptoms:
- runny nose;
- nasal congestion;
- general malaise;
- slight rise in temperature.
Treatment of SARS is exclusively symptomatic. After recovery, all unpleasant sensations in the throat and ear disappear. If ear itching persists after a cold, then this may be a sign of otitis media. Inflammation of the outer or middle ear is a common complication of SARS.
Angina
At the onset of a sore throat, patients often complain that they have a sore throat and itchy ears inside. At the same time, the person does not have a runny nose and cough. Symptoms include:
- a sharp rise in temperature;
- severe redness of the throat;
- purulent plugs on the tonsils;
- pain when swallowing;
- weakness;
- temperature increase.
Therapy of this disease is carried out with the help of antibiotics of the penicillin group. At the same time, gargling with antiseptics is prescribed: Furacilin, Chlorhexidine, Miramistin.
Furuncle
Furuncle is called a purulent inflammation of the hair follicle. This disease is most often caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Such abscesses often occur in the auricle and ear canal. At the same time, the patient's ear hurts and itches, because this area is equipped with a large number of nerve endings and is extremely sensitive. With large boils, patients complain of a feeling of a foreign object in the ear.
Whenboils shows local treatment with antibacterial ointments. They are applied to turundas and placed in the ear canal. In many cases, this leads to a breakthrough of the abscess, after which the patient's condition improves. In difficult cases, the boil is opened surgically.
Ear Mite
Damage to the organ of hearing by tick-borne parasites is called otoacariasis. The causative agents of the disease are:
- ixodid pincers;
- demodex.
Ixodid ticks do not live in central Russia, they can only be found in southern countries with a tropical climate. However, people often bring them back from vacation. This type of tick grows to a large size and is clearly visible. When it bites, a person’s ear hurts and itches, crawling and the presence of a foreign body in the ear canal are felt. This parasite cannot live in the ears for a long time, so the pain and itching will soon disappear on their own. In order to get rid of this type of mites, it is enough to rinse the ear with an alcohol solution.
Ear demodicosis is much more dangerous. This disease is caused by the demodex mite. It lives on the skin of most people, but shows its activity only with a decrease in immunity. The parasite is microscopic and cannot be seen with the naked eye. The signs of ear demodicosis are as follows:
- excruciating itching;
- pain in ear canal;
- redness of the mucosa;
- Crawling sensation inside the ear.
Insecticidal ear drops and ointments are used to treat demodicosis. oralprescribe antihistamines to relieve itching.
Idiopathic pruritus
In some cases, it is not possible to establish exactly why a person's ear itches and hurts. When examining the organ of hearing with an otoscope, no pathologies are detected. In such cases, doctors talk about idiopathic itching. Pain occurs as a secondary symptom. It is caused by scratching the auricle and ear canal.
However, nothing happens in the body for no reason. Most often, such itching occurs due to a malfunction of the receptors of the ear mucosa. In some cases, such a symptom may have a psychogenic origin.
What should I do if the patient's ears hurt and itch for no apparent reason? How to treat this kind of itching? In this case, it is necessary to take sedatives and antidepressants. Regular ear drops and antihistamines do not help with idiopathic pruritus.
Diagnosis
When complaining of pain and itching in the ear, the ENT doctor examines the organ of hearing with an otoscope. This allows you to identify pathological changes in the ear canal and eardrum. To clarify the diagnosis, a number of tests and examinations are prescribed:
- ear swab with back culture;
- allergen testing;
- analysis for demodex mite;
- general clinical blood and urine tests;
- MRI and CT of the inner ear;
- audiometry (to assess hearing quality).
If idiopathic pruritus is suspected, the patient needs to consult a neurologist andpsychotherapist.
Topical treatment
What to do if a person's ear hurts and itches inside? Treatment will depend entirely on the cause of these manifestations. After all, such a symptom occurs in a variety of pathologies. Unpleasant sensations will disappear only when their etiology is eliminated.
With excruciating itching and severe pain in the ears, not only etiotropic, but also symptomatic treatment is necessary. After all, discomfort in the ear canal often deprives patients of sleep. To reduce discomfort, ear drops are prescribed:
- "Sofradex".
- "Otofa".
- "Otinum".
- "Clotrimazole" (for otomycosis).
- "Polydex".
- "Otipax".
- "Otizol".
It is important to remember that these remedies only reduce inflammation and itching. However, they do not always affect the cause of the pathology. Inflammatory diseases of the organ of hearing, as a rule, require complex treatment.
If itching is severe, try not to scratch your ears. This can lead to infection in the wound and suppuration. To get rid of discomfort, it is better to use ear drops. They reduce mucosal irritation.
Prevention
How to prevent diseases accompanied by itching and pain in the ears? It is necessary to adhere to the following recommendations of otolaryngologists:
- It is very important to cure viral and bacterial pathologies of the throat and nose in time. Such diseasesquite often give complications to the organ of hearing.
- It is necessary to carefully carry out the hygiene of the ear canal, avoiding injury to the mucosa. In this case, cotton swabs should be used. Inserting sharp objects into the ear canal is unacceptable.
- Wear a rubber cap while swimming.
- Allergy sufferers should avoid exposure to irritants.
- It is necessary to take measures to strengthen immunity: do gymnastics, spend enough time in the fresh air, and harden. Parasitic and fungal infections of the ears usually occur when the body's defenses are weakened.
- It is necessary to periodically disinfect items in contact with the ears (mobile phones, headphones, etc.).
- You should regularly undergo preventive examinations with an otolaryngologist.
It is important to remember that if discomfort occurs in the ear, it is necessary to urgently visit an otolaryngologist. Self-medication with such pathologies is extremely dangerous. Only timely treatment will help to avoid complications and maintain hearing acuity.
