What causes swollen and painful ear roots?

Many people may have suffered from otitis media. In fact, this is the culprit of swollen and painful ear roots. Although this disease is not serious, it brings great pain to people. When the disease occurs, it will make people's heads feel dizzy and swollen and very painful, and sometimes pus will flow out of the ears. If it is a baby, it is more likely to develop this disease. In addition, mumps, lymphadenitis, etc. may also cause swollen and painful ear roots. So today let’s talk about the causes and preventive measures of swollen and painful ear roots caused by otitis media.

Pain at the base of the ear can be seen in, and oral tumors can also cause pain in the mouth and base of the ear. Otitis media, also known as "ear bottom", causes headaches and sometimes... Although it is not a serious illness, it brings endless pain to people. If infants and young children are fed in a supine position, milk may enter the middle ear through the Eustachian tube, causing otitis media, because the infant's Eustachian tube is relatively straight, with a shorter lumen and a wider inner diameter. Or if they swallow water into their mouths while swimming, the milk may enter the middle ear through the nasopharynx and cause otitis media.

1. Causes of ear root swelling and pain

(1) Acute otitis media is the cause of swelling and pain at the base of the ear. It is an acute suppurative inflammation of the middle ear mucosa, most commonly infected through the Eustachian tube. After a cold, inflammation of the pharynx and nose spreads to the Eustachian tube, causing congestion and swelling of the pharyngeal opening and mucosal cavity of the Eustachian tube, and ciliary movement is impaired. Pathogenic bacteria take advantage of the opportunity to invade the middle ear, causing otitis media.

(2) Incorrect nose blowing techniques can also lead to otitis media.

(3) When swimming, you should avoid swallowing water to prevent water from entering the middle ear through the nasopharynx and causing otitis media.

(4) If infants and young children are fed in a supine position, the milk may enter the middle ear through the Eustachian tube, causing otitis media, because the infant's Eustachian tube is relatively straight, with a shorter lumen and a wider inner diameter.

(5) In addition, smoking can also cause otitis media.

2. Prevention of ear root swelling and pain

When washing your face, hair or taking a bath, do not allow dirty water to enter the external auditory canal. Patients with purulent otitis media are also not allowed to swim, otherwise not only will the pus in the ear contaminate the swimming pool water and harm public health, but the sewage entering the ear will also aggravate the condition. Even if the ear has stopped discharging pus, you still need to be examined by a doctor to confirm that the eardrum has been completely repaired before you can swim. Otherwise, water ingress is very likely to recur.

3. Differential diagnosis of ear root swelling and pain

Secretory otitis media should be differentiated from acute otitis media. A tympanogram was performed to confirm the diagnosis of secretory otitis media. Clinically, the side, duration, presence and severity of secretory otitis media should be monitored. Based on the clinical symptoms, the pink or yellow shiny tympanic membrane, the hairline, and the type B tympanogram, the diagnosis is generally not difficult. If necessary, diagnostic tympanocentesis can be performed under sterile conditions to confirm the diagnosis.

(1) Hearing loss: decreased hearing and enhanced self-hearing. When the head tilts forward or toward the healthy side, hearing may temporarily improve (positional hearing improvement) because the effusion leaves the cochlear conduction. When the effusion is viscous, hearing may not change with changes in head position.

(2) Earache: Acute cases may cause dull earache, which is often the first symptom of the patient. It may be continuous or cramping. In chronic cases, ear pain is not obvious. This disease is often accompanied by a feeling of blockage or stuffiness in the ear, which can be temporarily relieved by pressing the tragus.

(3) Tinnitus: It is usually low-pitched and intermittent, such as "crackling", buzzing, and the sound of running water. When the head moves or when yawning or blowing the nose, a sound of air passing through water may be heard in the ears.