What are the causes of an earache?

With cold weather arriving colds including earache. "It is usually caused by viruses or, more frequently, bacteria. In these cases we speak of otitis, or inflammation of one of the parts of the ear (outer, middle, inner) - explains Eugenio Mira, a professor at the School of specialization in otolaryngology at the University of Pavia -. The ear pain, however, can also be caused by problems in nearby structures that, through the nervous system, they feel pain at this level. The typical example is dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint: the pain you feel when you open or close the mouth. Other times, the evil may be due to a disease of the throat to the reflection conducted by the glosso-pharyngeal nerve. This form, if it persists and affects only one ear, should never be underestimated, especially in smokers, because it could be the indicator of tumors in the larynx or pharynx. "
How do you distinguish the different forms of otitis?

"Looking at the ear with the otoscope. Otitis externa are redness and swelling in the ear canal: usually occur at sea, or pool, the stagnation of water in the pipe, which promotes the engraftment of germs. The symptoms are itching and pain, accentuated by pressure on the ear (sometimes hearing loss). Otitis media concerns the small cavity that lies behind the eardrum, which communicates with the outside through the eustachian tube, ear tube that connects the throat and can allow the passage of microbes. Often follows a cold: the inflammation spreads and affects the middle ear, causing swelling and consequent partial or complete closure of the Eustachian tube. Acute otitis media usually causes intense pain and throbbing, it gets worse when you lay down and when you blow your nose, and is associated with hearing loss, sometimes malaise, fever, nausea and vomiting. If there is perforation of the eardrum pain decreases and shows a secretion from the ear. The inner ear infections are more rare: pain is not always present, but is more common a feeling of muffled. "

How do you treat ear infections?

"It depends on the severity. If there is a large middle ear infection using antibiotics, often associated with steroids. Since the antibiotic did not immediately calm the pain, you can also add in the initial phase anti-inflammatory drugs or pain killers, especially in children (paracetamol). In mild forms of otitis is now necessary to resort to antibiotics. Often the episode, especially if it relates to the external auditory canal, tends to correct itself. However, to reduce pain and inflammation may be given anti-inflammatories and painkillers, better than in the mouth drops. The drops, antibiotic or antibiotic-steroid are given in otitis externa, but should be avoided in case of perforation of the eardrum. "