symptoms of ear disorders
ear, nose, and throat disorders
Earache
The following information can help people with earache decide when a doctor's evaluation is needed and help them know what to expect during the evaluation. In people with earache, certain symptoms and characteristics are cause for concern: Diabetes, a compromised immune system, or chronic kidney disease Redness and swelling behind the ear Severe swelling at the opening of the ear canal Fluid draining from the ear Chronic pain, especially in people who have other head/neck symptoms (such as hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or nasal obstruction) People with warning signs or Ear Discharge should see a doctor as soon as possible, unless the only warning sign is chronic pain. Then, a delay of a week or so is usually not harmful. People with acute pain should see a doctor within a few days (or sooner if pain is severe). ). Doctors may also do Testing to evaluate hearing. In addition to the presence of warning signs, an important feature is whether the ear examination is normal. Middle and external ear disorders cause abnormalities, which, when combined with the person's symptoms and other medical history, usually suggest a cause. People with a normal ear examination may have ear pain for another reason, such as Tonsillopharyngitis . If no abnormalities are found during the ear examination but the person has chronic pain, doctors sometimes suspect the ear pain might be due to a Most often, the doctor's examination provides a diagnosis, and tests are not needed. However, people with a normal ear examination, particularly those with chronic or recurrent pain, may need tests to look for cancer. Such tests usually include examination of the nose, throat, and voice box (larynx) with a flexible viewing scope (endoscope) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the base of the skull. 