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Differential diagnosis of ear pain


Authors: Veronika Bandúrová 1,2;  Jan Plzák 1,2;  Jan Bouček 1,3
Authors‘ workplace: Klinika otorinolaryngologie a chirurgie hlavy a krku 1. LF UK a FN Motol, Praha 1;  Anatomický ústav 1. LF UK v Praze 2;  Mikrobiologický ústav AV ČR, v. v. i, Praha 3
Published in: Čas. Lék. čes. 2019; 158: 231-234
Category: Review Article

Overview

Ear pain, otalgia, can have many etiologies. Some of these conditions, e.g. impacted ear wax, can be solved easily directly in the outpatient office. On the other hand, inflammations and its complications can also endanger patient’s life. Situation is complicated due to secondary otalgia, when the source of pain is localized in another body region, e.g. oropharynx. Stubbing pain in the ear should be in this case perceived as a warning sign, because it could be caused by spread of primary disease to the parapharynx. Aim of this paper is to provide a summary of the most often causes of ear pain correlated with their typical clinical features, It should help to recognize serious conditions, which can endanger patient´s life.

Keywords:

oropharyngeal cancer – otalgia – otitis media – otitis externa


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