Otalgia (ancient Greek οὖς oús [Gen. ὠτός ōtós] “ear” and ἄλγος algos “pain”) is a medical term for earache of various causes. Otalgia is the leading symptom of all inflammatory diseases of the middle ear and the outer ear. Otalgia is classified as primary and secondary otalgia. Ear pain is mediated through the tympanic plexus via the glossopharyngeal nerve. The vagus nerve is also involved near the eardrum.
Management of ear pain depends on the cause. In case of a bacterial infection, antibiotics are sometimes recommended and over the counter pain-killers may help control discomfort. Some causes of ear pain require a procedure or surgery.
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Otalgia
or earache is classified into Primary and secondary earache. Primary
earache is pain that originates from the ear. Secondary earache is a
type of referred pain which means that the source of the pain
is at a different location from where the pain is felt. Primary
otalgia: Primary
otalgias arise from
diseases or injuries to the ear.
Secondary otalgia: Different nerves provide sensation to each part of the ear, some of which are the cranial nerves V (trigeminal), VII (facial), IX (glossopharyngeal), and X (vagus), and the great auricular nerve (cervical nerves C2-C3). These nerves also carry the sensation from other parts of the body, from the mouth to the chest and abdomen. Therefore, irritation of these nerves in parts of the body other than the ear has the potential to produce pain in the ear which is called referred or secondary ear pain. Irritation of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) is the most common cause of referred ear pain.
Primary otalgia causes:-
Otitis media
Otitis
media is inflammation of the middle
ear, which in turn is divided into acute otitis media and chronic
otitis media.
Acute
otitis media
Acute
otitis media can be serous or
purulent. It is a painful inflammation of the mucous membranes of the
middle
ear, usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
Mastoiditis
Mastoiditis
is a complication of acute
otitis media that also causes otalgia. Mastoiditis is an acute
inflammation in
the mastoid process (mastoid process) of the temporal bone with
decalcification
of the
bones.
Chronic
purulent otitis media
Persistant
otitis turns into chronic, purulent otitis media
Otitis
externa
Otitis externa (Latin for “external ear infection”) is an inflammation of the external ear, especially the external ear canal (the tube between the ear-drum and outer ear) and in a broader sense, the pinna also. Exposure to water repeatedly makes the ear canal prone to inflammation and so, otitis externa is frequently called, "swimmer's ear". Only one ear is infected, generally. The symptoms usually get cured with treatment within a few days, but in some cases may persist for many months.
Symptoms of otitis externa comprise:
Pain killers are prescribed for earache by the General practitioners or E.N.T. specialists. However, the relief is only temporary. Thus, homeopathy is a better option than allopathy for ear pain. Homeopathic treatment can help heal the earache as well as the cause of the ear pain. Many times, even an indicated surgery can be avoided with proper homeopathic treatment - surgical operation can lead to other complications also, for example, bleeding, infection, formation of adhesions (scar tissue) which cause severe pain and so on, which usually requires another surgical intervention / correction - and thus, by avoiding surgery, one can continue one's household and professional activities and save money, because it is well known that surgery leads to mental, physical, emotional and financial trauma. Homeopathic treatment under a competent homeopathic doctor will avoid all the unwanted complications and will preserve the sanctity of the parts which may otherwise be removed by surgery.
Moreover,even if surgery is opted for, homeopathic treatment is highly effective in preventing the formation of adhesions (scar tissue), which is a frequent sequel of any surgery.
There are 501 homoeopathic medicines which give great relief in earache. However, the correct choice and the resulting relief is a matter of experience and right judgment on the part of the homeopathic doctor. The treatment and medicines are selected after a thorough case taking of the patient. Thus, homeopathic remedies for ear pain are designer made, unlike allopathy, in which all patients receive the same drugs.
Thus,homeopathy is a safe, effective, natural alternative to (conventional) drugs, pain killers and surgery. This is one of the diseases where homoeopathy has been extremely effective (even in preventing imminent surgery).
For a complete cure without recurrences, the homeopathic treatment must be taken seriously for about 10 to 15 weeks, although pain relief is immediate.
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