The pain of an earache may be sharp, dull, or burning. Muffled hearing and a feeling of pressure or blockage may also be present. Earaches can be caused by:
* Infection or disease in the ear itself.
* Infection or disease in the nose, mouth, or throat.
* Infection or injury to jaw bones.
* Changes in altitude or air pressure.
* A build-up of ear wax.
* An object, growth, or insect in the ear.

Earaches are very common in young children. They may tug or rub on the painful ear. Fever, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting may also occur with earaches. The usual cause of earache in children is middle ear infection or otitis media. Adults also may develop this infection. It is caused by bacteria or a virus that first enters the nose or throat and then travels up the tubes of the ear. The infection often begins as a cold, sinus infection, throat infection, or allergy attack. Pain results from a swollen, red eardrum and build-up of fluid in the airspace behind the eardrum.

Other painful ear conditions include:
* Serous otitis media: Pus or mucus builds up behind the eardrum and stays trapped there for weeks, months, or even years after the painful part of the infection is over.
* Otitis externa: Swelling of the outer ear and the ear canal. It is more common in adults, people with diabetes, people who pick at their ears or insert objects such as pens or pencils into them, and people who swim. Sometimes it's called swimmer's ear.
* Otitis barotrauma: A full-ear feeling of unequal pressure caused by flying in an airplane, by a change in altitude, or by congestion in the nose.

The ear canal is very delicate. It is never a good idea to put anything, that has not been prescribed, in your ear. A health care provider may prescribe one or more medications to treat the cause of the earache. Some cases may require a medical procedure or surgery.

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