Throat and ear pain when swallowing home remedies

Ear infections aren’t just painful — they can also take one to two weeks to fully heal, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. And taking a wait-and-see-approach — meaning, without antibiotics — is recommended for many children and adults with ear infections. This is based on guidelines published in the journal Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery in February 2016. Natural remedies can also help.

“There’s no scientific data to support home remedies [for ear infections], but they may be soothing, and there could be a placebo effect,” says otolaryngologist Matthew Bush, MD, an assistant professor of otolaryngology, head and neck surgery with University of Kentucky Health Care in Lexington.

The good news about these strategies? They won’t harm you — and they might do just the trick.

• Ear “popping.” Close your mouth, hold your nostrils, and try to breathe out through your nose, recommends otolaryngologist Austin Rose, MD, director of the pediatric rhinology, allergy and sinus surgery at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. You should hear or feel a small pop, similar to the pressure change sensation you feel when changing altitude, like in a plane or on a mountain. Dr. Rose explains that the ability to pop your ears is healthy — in fact, it’s “vital for scuba divers and pilots.” It shouldn’t hurt, so if it does, try again after you’ve given other strategies a chance to work.
• A moist compress. To make a warm compress, soak a washcloth in warm water, squeeze out the excess water, fold it into a rectangle, and hold it over your ear. The warmth and moisture can help loosen congestion in your ear. You can also use cold water for a cool compress if you have a fever.
• Steam. Similar to moist heat, steam is especially effective at clearing up congestion. Try taking a steamy shower or bath or inhaling the steam from a large bowl of water. (Put a towel over your head to make a tent as you lean over the bowl.)
• Gargling with saltwater. Since ear pain can occasionally be related to a sore throat, gargling with warm saltwater could help ease your symptoms, Rose says. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of warm water, the American Academy of Family Physicians recommends.
• Vinegar and rubbing alcohol. If you have swimmer’s ear, this mixture can help reduce the pain, Dr. Bush says. Prepare a solution of half vinegar and half rubbing alcohol and use a dropper to put the liquid into your ear canal. (Just be sure you don’t have a tympanostomy tube or a hole in your eardrum and that you stop if you feel discomfort.) This mix is also useful to prevent swimmer’s ear if you use it after getting out of the pool, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

Rose and Bush agree that over-the-counter pain medications can help you feel better. If you have allergies, getting away from any triggers that cause congestion, which leads to ear infections, may also provide some relief, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Though ear infections and ear pain often get better with time and care, others need more aggressive treatment. If you’ve tried all these remedies for a day or two, and you still have pain and fever, both experts agree that it’s time to call the doctor. And since ear pain can be caused by other conditions besides an ear infection, you might need your doctor’s help to determine what’s causing the ache.

“Occasionally we see serious complications with ear infections,” Rose says. He emphasizes that immediate medical care is needed if your ear pain is accompanied by facial weakness, high fever, seizure, or bloody discharge from the ear, or if the ear pain sufferer is a baby. For children, repeat ear infections also carry the risk of hearing loss and speech problems, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, so it’s important to visit a doctor if ear pain or infection recurs.

Earache is a common problem, particularly in children. It can be worrying, but it's usually only caused by a minor infection and will often get better in a few days without treatment.

Earache can be a sharp, dull or burning ear pain that comes and goes or is constant. One or both ears may be affected.

When should I contact my GP?

It's not always necessary to see your GP if you or your child have earache. Your local pharmacist is always on hand to offer help and advice on how you can manage the problem. The pain will often improve in a few days and there are things you can do to help in the meantime.

You should contact your GP or local out-of-hours service if:

• you or your child also have other symptoms, such as a high temperature (fever), vomiting, a severe sore throat, hearing loss, swelling around the ear, or discharge from the ear
• there is something stuck in your or your child's ear
• the earache doesn't improve within a few days

To assess your condition at home use our earache self-help guide.

Earache isn't usually serious and can be treated by a pharmacist. Your pharmacist may recommend that you contact your GP practice if required.

You should only contact your GP or local out-of-hours service if:

• you or your child also have other symptoms, such as a high temperature (fever), vomiting, a severe sore throat, hearing loss, swelling around the ear, or discharge from the ear
• there is something stuck in your or your child's ear
• the earache doesn't improve within a few days

How can I treat earache at home?

You can ask your pharmacist about using over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat the pain. Children under the age of 16 should not take aspirin.

Placing a warm flannel against the affected ear may also help relieve the pain.

Your pharmacist may also be able to recommend over-the-counter eardrops for your earache, but let them know your symptoms and ask for their advice first.

Eardrops or olive oil drops should not be used if the eardrum has burst, and they will not help an ear infection.

If you or your child has an ear infection, you should avoid putting objects in the ear, such as cotton buds, or getting the affected ear wet.

Common causes of earache

The information below should not be used to self-diagnose your condition, but it may give you an idea as to what might be causing your earache.

It does not include every possible cause, but outlines some of the most common reasons for earache.

Ear infections

If the cause of earache is an ear infection, there may be a watery or pus-like fluid coming out of the ear.

Outer ear infections (infections of the tube connecting the outer ear and eardrum) and middle ear infections (infections of the parts of the ear behind the eardrum) are very common causes of earache.

Many ear infections clear up on their own without treatment in a few days or weeks, but in some cases your GP may prescribe eardrops or antibiotics.

Read more about treating outer ear infections and treating middle ear infections

Glue ear

Glue ear (also known as otitis media with effusion, or OME) is a build-up of fluid deep inside the ear, which commonly causes some temporary hearing loss. The condition tends to be painless, but sometimes the pressure of this fluid can cause earache.

Glue ear will often clear up on its own, although this can take a few months. If the problem is particularly persistent, a minor procedure to place small tubes called grommets in the ear may be recommended to help drain the fluid.

Read more about glue ear

Damage to the ear

Earache can sometimes result from injury to the inside of the ear – for example, by scraping earwax from the ear canal using a cotton bud, or poking a cotton bud too far into your ear, which can puncture the eardrum.

The ear canal is very sensitive and can easily become damaged. The ear should heal on its own without treatment, but it can take up to two months for a perforated eardrum to heal. If you have a perforated eardrum, eardrops shouldn't be used.

Earwax or an object in the ear

A build-up of earwax or an object stuck inside the ear can sometimes cause earache.

If there is something in your or your child's ear that seems be causing pain, don't attempt to remove it yourself, as you may only push it further inside and you may damage the eardrum.

If you have a build-up of earwax in your ear, your pharmacist will be able to recommend eardrops to soften it so it falls out naturally. In some cases, your GP will need to remove the wax (once softened with eardrops) by flushing the ear with water. This is known as ear irrigation.

If there is an object in the ear, your GP may need to refer you or your child to a specialist to have it removed.

Throat infections

If you find it painful to swallow and you have a sore throat, your earache could be a symptom of a throat infection, such as tonsillitis or quinsy (an abscess on one side of the back of your throat, which can sometimes make it very difficult to swallow even fluids).

Some types of tonsillitis will clear up after a few days without the need for antibiotics. But if you have quinsy, you will need to see your GP as soon as possible for treatment. You may have quinsy if your sore throat gets worse very quickly.

A problem with your jaw

Earache is occasionally caused by a problem with the joint of your jaw bone (where the jaw meets the skull). This is known as temporomandibular joint pain and can be caused by problems such as arthritis or teeth grinding.

Jaw pain can often be treated with painkillers, warm or cold compresses, and trying not to clench your jaw and grind your teeth.

A dental abscess

A dental abscess is a collection of pus that can form in your teeth or gums as a result of a bacterial infection. The main symptom is pain in your affected tooth, which can be intense and throbbing, although the pain can sometimes spread to your ear.

If you think you may have a dental abscess, make a dentist appointment as soon as possible. They may need to remove the abscess and drain the pus.

Read more about treating dental abscesses