Ear pain may be variously described as dull, burning, sharp, constant, or on and off. The affected person may feel a fullness, pressure, or stuffiness in any part of the ear. An earache can also be referred pain that is caused by a disorder in the teeth , tongue, tonsils, jaw, throat, or salivary glands rather than by soreness in the ear itself. Related symptoms Earache accompanied by fever is likely to be caused by a bacterial or viral infection. An infection of the middle ear, otitis media , is a very common cause of earache, especially in children under six years old after a common cold or respiratory infection during winter or early spring.
Some children also experience irritability, diarrhea , and vomiting with ear infections.
Other related symptoms of earache include dizziness and a stiff neck. An earache can be made worse by allergies or sinus infections. Severe earache for which the cause is not properly diagnosed and treated may lead to hearing loss. Associations Besides respiratory infections, infections or other disorders of the nose, mouth, throat, teeth , and jaw can cause referred pain in the ear. Ear pain is also associated with mastoiditis , an infection of the bony mastoid processes near the ear that may occur following otitis media.