Ear Pain (Otalgia): Causes, Self-Care, and When to See a Doctor | Should You Seek Medical Care for Ear Pain During Travel?
■Symptoms
Ear pain (otalgia) is pain felt inside or around the ear. It may affect one ear or both ears.
You may experience symptoms such as throbbing ear pain, a feeling of fullness in the ear, difficulty hearing, ear discharge, or pain that begins after a flight. During travel, ear pain may be triggered by changes in cabin pressure during air travel, moisture in the ear after swimming or showering, or a common cold.
In many cases, ear pain is caused by inflammation of the ear or changes in air pressure. However, in some cases, it may be caused by a serious infection or another underlying medical condition.
■Causes
Possible causes include:
- Acute otitis media (middle ear infection) or other serious ear infections
- Otitis externa (swimmer’s ear) or injury to the ear
- Air pressure changes after flying (airplane ear/barotitis media)
- Earwax blockage or a foreign body in the ear
- Illnesses outside the ear, such as the common cold, sinusitis, or throat infections
Most cases improve with appropriate treatment. However, if ear pain is accompanied by a high fever, ear discharge, or severe pain, prompt medical evaluation may be necessary.
■When to Seek Medical Care
Seek Medical Attention Promptly If You Have:
- Severe ear pain that persists
- A high fever
- Ear discharge or bleeding from the ear
- Sudden hearing loss
- Severe dizziness or difficulty moving one side of the face
You May Monitor Your Symptoms If:
- You have mild ear pain after a flight
- The pain is associated with a mild cold and is temporary
- The pain is gradually improving
- Your daily activities are not significantly affected
However, if your symptoms last for several days, worsen, or are accompanied by hearing loss or ear discharge, we recommend seeing a doctor as a precaution.
■Self-Care
- Get plenty of rest.
- Stay well hydrated.
- Do not insert cotton swabs or other objects into your ear.
- After air travel, avoid repeatedly forcing your ears to “pop.”
If you have bleeding from the ear, ear discharge, or sudden hearing loss, do not rely on self-care alone. Please seek medical attention promptly.
■What We Can Do at Our Clinic
We provide:
- English-speaking medical care
- Medical consultation and examination of the ears, throat, and overall condition by a physician
- Blood pressure measurement and physical examination
- Blood tests when indicated
- Intravenous (IV) fluid therapy for dehydration
- Prescription medications, including pain relievers and antibiotics, when appropriate
- Referral to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist or other specialist medical facilities when necessary
■Appointment
At our clinic in Shinsaibashi, Osaka, international travelers can receive medical care with confidence. We offer same-day appointments and English-speaking medical services.
If you are experiencing ear pain, hearing difficulty, ear discharge, or other ear-related symptoms, please feel free to contact us by phone or email.
International Clinic Osaka Shinsaibashi (ICOS) provides English-speaking medical care for the evaluation of ear pain, diagnosis of infections, and appropriate testing and treatment. International visitors are welcome.
Address
4F Zenith Building, 1-13-25 Nishi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan
Phone
+81-6-6484-6392
Email
c.icos@international-clinic-osaka.com