Description

• Otalgia, or pain localised to the ear
• Various diseases can cause otalgia because the ear has rich sensory innervations through many cranial (V, VII, IX, and X) and cervical (2 and 3) nerves
• Otalgia can be classified as primary or referred
• Otogenic otalgia originates from diseases of the external, middle and inner ear
• Referred otalgia arises from pathologies outside the ear

Types

Primary otalgia

• Otorrhea
• Tympanic membrane fullness
• Vertigo

Secondary otalgia

• Pain with chewing
• Sinusitis
• Pain from dental procedures
• History of gastroesophageal reflux - suggest secondary otalgia

Investigation

• Consider - pain location, duration, aggravating factors, alleviating factors, associated symptoms, previous episodes, medical history, smoking status, and alcohol abuse
• Inspection and palpation of the oral cavity and oropharynx with concentration given to the teeth, TMJ, tongue, soft palate, posterior pharyngeal wall and tonsils
• Opening and closing the mouth may reveal trismus, as well as audible or palpable crepitus suggestive of a TMJ abnormality
• Inspection of the auricle and periauricular region, as well as an otoscopic examination to visually inspect the tympanic membrane and the external auditory canal
• Ear swabs should be done only for recurrent or chronic otitis externa
• Hearing tests should always be considered for patients with associated hearing loss
• Imaging is performed when a patient is considered to be at high risk of malignancy

Treatments

Treating common infections

Ayurvedic Treatment

To relieve infection

• Pancha thiktaka kashaya
• Guggulu panchapalam
• Kaisora guggulu
• Maha tikthaka gritha
• Guggulu thikthaka gritha

For Associated Respiratory tract infections

• Dashamoola katutraya Kashaya
• Vyoshadi vataka

Procedures

• Kabala – Triphala kashaya + Trikatu choorna
• Karna dhoopana – Guggulu varthi , Haridra
• Lepa - Rasnajambeera around ears and TMJ
• Jaloukavacharana - over ear

Department

Salakya - ENT