Otalgia overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S [2]
Overview
Otalgia is ear pain or an earache. Ear pain (or Otalgia) is one of the leading complaints among children either in the primary care or in emergency setting. There are two distinct types of Otalgia: Primary Otalgia - pain that originates from pathologies within the ear, Referred Otalgia - pain that originates from pathologies outside the ear and is referred to it.
Acute Otitis media, Otitis externa, Otitis media with effusion are the three most common causes responsible for Otalgia in children. Otalgia is not always associated with ear disease. It may be caused by several other conditions, such as Impacted tooth, Sinus disease, Inflamed tonsils and infections in the nose and pharynx. The most common causes of ear pain can be identified through the description of the character, onset, and location (coupled with a physical examination).