<unk>  has a variety of causes, the majority of which are not life-threatening.<unk>  can originate from a part of the<unk>  itself, known as primary<unk> , or from an anatomic structure outside the<unk>  that is perceived as pain within the<unk> , known as secondary<unk> . Secondary<unk>  is a type of referred pain, meaning that the source of the pain differs from the location where the pain is felt. Primary<unk>  is more common in children, whereas secondary (referred) pain is more common in adults. Primary<unk>  is most commonly caused by infection or injury to one of the parts of the<unk> . External<unk>  Many conditions involving the external<unk>  will be visible to the naked eye. Because the external<unk>  is the most exposed portion of the<unk> , it is vulnerable to trauma or environmental exposures. Blunt trauma, such as a blow to the<unk> , can result in a hematoma, or collection of blood between the cartilage and perichondrium of the<unk> . This type of injury is particularly common in contact sports such as wrestling and boxing. Environmental injuries include sunburn, frostbite, or contact dermatitis. Less common causes of external<unk>  include: * Auricular Cellulitis: a superficial infection of the<unk>  that may be precipitated by trauma, an insect bite, or<unk>  piercing * Perichondritis: infection of the perichondrium, or fascia surrounding the<unk>  cartilage, which can develop as a complication of untreated auricular cellulitis. It is important to identify and treat perichondritis with antibiotics to avoid permanent<unk>  deformities. * Relapsing polychondritis: a systemic inflammatory condition involving cartilage in many parts of the body, but often including the cartilage of both<unk> s. The severity and prognosis of the disease varies widely. Otitis externa Otitis externa, also known as "swimmer's<unk> ", is a cellulitis of the external<unk>  canal. In North America, 98% of cases are caused by bacteria, and the most common causative organisms are Pseudomonas and Staph aureus. Risk factors include exposure to excessive moisture (e.g. from swimming or a warm climate) and disruption of the protective cerumen barrier, which can result from aggressive<unk>  cleaning or placing objects in the<unk> . Malignant otitis externa is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of otitis externa in which the infection spreads from the<unk>  canal into the surrounding skull base, hence becoming an osteomyelitis. It occurs largely in diabetic patients. It is very rare in children, though can be seen in immunocompromised children and adults. Pseudomonas is the most common causative organism. The pain tends to be more severe than in uncomplicated otitis externa, and laboratory studies often reveal elevated inflammatory markers (ESR and/or CRP). The infection may extend to cranial nerves, or rarely to the meninges or brain. Examination of the<unk>  canal may reveal granulation tissue in the inferior canal. It is treated with several weeks of IV and oral antibiotics, usually fluoroquinolones. Mechanical obstruction *<unk> wax impaction: results in 12 million medical visits annually in the United States. Cerumen impaction may cause<unk> , but it can also prevent thorough examination of the<unk>  and identification of an alternate source of pain. * Foreign body: commonly include insects or small objects like beads Less common * Herpes zoster: varicella zoster virus can reactivate in an area that includes the<unk> . Reactivation can produce pain and visible vesicles within the<unk>  canal and, when combined with facial paralysis due to facial nerve involvement, is called Ramsay Hunt syndrome. * Tumors: the most common<unk>  canal tumor is squamous cell carcinoma. Symptoms can resemble those of otitis externa, and cancer should be considered if the symptoms are not improving on appropriate treatment. Middle and inner<unk>  Acute otitis media Otitis media Acute otitis media is an infection of the middle<unk> . More than 80% of children experience at least one episode of otitis media by age 3 years. Acute otitis media is also most common in these first 3 years of life, though older children may also experience it. The most common causative bacteria are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. Otitis media often occurs with or following cold symptoms. The diagnosis is made by the combination of symptoms and examination of the tympanic membrane for redness, bulging, and/or a middle<unk>  effusion (collection of fluid within the middle<unk> . Complications of otitis media include hearing loss, facial nerve paralysis, or extension of infection to surrounding anatomic structures, including: * Mastoiditis: infection of the air cells in the mastoid process, the area of the skull located right behind the<unk>  * Petrositis: infection of the petrous portion of the temporal bone * Labyrinthitis * Meningitis * Subdural abscess * Brain abscess * Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis Trauma * Barotrauma: results from changes in atmospheric pressure that occur when descending in a plane or deep diving. As atmospheric pressure increases with descent, the eustachian tube collapses due to pressure within the middle<unk>  being less than the external pressure, which causes pain. In severe cases, middle<unk>  hemorrhage or tympanic membrane rupture can result. * Tympanic membrane rupture: disruption of the<unk> drum. This can be caused by a blow to the<unk> , blast injury, barotrauma, or direct penetration of the tympanic membrane by an object entering the<unk> . Referred<unk>  A variety of conditions can cause irritation of one of the nerves that provides sensation to the<unk> . Conditions causing irritation the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V): * Temporomandibular joint syndrome: inflammation or abnormal movements of the joint between the jaw and skull. These disorders are most common in women of childbearing age, and are uncommon in children younger than 10 years old. * Myofascial pain syndrome: pain in the muscles involved in chewing. There may be certain parts of the muscles or tendons (connective tissue connecting the muscles to bones) that are especially painful when pressed * Trigeminal neuralgia: attacks of shooting pain down the face that may be triggered by touching the face or temperature changes * Dental pain from cavities or an abscess * Oral cavity carcinoma Conditions causing irritation of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) or glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX): * Tonsillitis: infection/inflammation of the tonsils * Post-tonsillectomy: pain following surgical removal of the tonsils * Pharyngitis: infection/inflammation of the throat * Sinusitis * Parotitis: inflammation of the parotid gland, the salivary gland right in front of the<unk>  * Carcinoma of the oropharynx (base of tongue, soft palate, pharyngeal wall, tonsils) Conditions causing irritation of the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X): * GERD * Myocardial ischemia (inadequate oxygen supply to the heart muscle) Conditions causing irritation of cervical nerves C2-C3: * Cervical spine trauma, arthritis (joint inflammation), or tumor * Temporal arteritis: an autoimmune disorder leading to inflammation of the temporal artery, a large artery in the head. This condition tends to occur in adults older than 50.
Ear pain
Ear drop
Ear eczema
Orofacial pain
Nasal congestion
Noora 
Neck spasm
Saddle nose