Otalgia or Ear Pain
Definition
Otalgia is defined as ear pain.
Types
Two separate and distinct types of otalgia exist.
• Pain that originates within the ear is primary otalgia.
• Pain that originates outside the ear is referred otalgia.
Source
•Typical sources of primary otalgia are external otitis, otitis media, mastoiditis, and auricular infections.
•When an ear is draining and accompanied by tympanic membrane perforation, simply looking in the ear and noting the pathology can make the diagnosis.
• When the tympanic membrane appears normal, however, the diagnosis becomes more difficult.
•Reports document that not all otalgia originates from the ear. Many remote anatomic sites share dual innervation with the ear, and noxious stimuli to these areas may be perceived as otogenic pain.
•By definition, referred otalgia is the sensation of ear pain originating from a source outside the ear.
•Irritation of these nerves, as well as irritation of distant branches of these nerves, can cause the perception of pain within the ear.
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