Ear pain is a symptom found in many patients with tonsillitis. When tonsillitis causes ear pain, it indicates that the condition has reached a severe level. If not treated, the disease can lead to many complications that seriously threaten the patient's health.
1. Why does tonsillitis cause ear pain?
The tonsils are the largest lymphatic tissues in the body, consisting of two glandular tissues located on either side of the throat. The tonsils are visible when the mouth is open. Their primary function is to secrete lymphocytes and antibodies to help fight off harmful pathogens entering the body. Although small, the tonsils play a crucial role in maintaining the immune system.
Tonsillitis is the condition where the tonsils become infected, swollen, and inflamed due to the attack of viruses or bacteria. Tonsillitis can occur on one side or both sides. It is a very common disease that can occur at any age, but it is most common in children and young adults. Common symptoms of tonsillitis include sore throat, pain while swallowing, hot, painful, dry throat, fever, fatigue, cough, headache, and loss of appetite.
Ear pain is also a symptom often seen in people with tonsillitis. Ear pain from tonsillitis typically occurs when the condition is left untreated or is not treated properly. The bacteria from the tonsils can spread to other areas, especially nearby areas like the middle ear, causing otitis media. In addition to ear pain, patients will experience other unpleasant symptoms. If left untreated, the disease may progress and cause complications such as acute mastoiditis, perforated eardrum, tympanosclerosis, hearing loss, and facial nerve paralysis. In severe cases, dangerous complications such as meningitis, brain abscess, or epidural abscess may occur. Other complications of tonsillitis in other organs include arthritis, heart inflammation, and sepsis.
2. What to do when tonsillitis causes ear pain?
When tonsillitis causes ear pain, the condition has become severe, and the patient should promptly visit a healthcare facility for diagnosis and treatment. The patient should not self-medicate because improper treatment or insufficient treatment will allow the disease to progress and increase the risk of complications. Treating tonsillitis after complications arise is much more difficult, complex, and costly.
The doctor will diagnose tonsillitis based on clinical symptoms and results from tests such as blood tests, Viggo test, Le Mec test, and ASLO level in the blood.
Generally, tonsillitis is easy to detect and treat. The treatment principle for tonsillitis when bacterial infection is confirmed is to use antibiotics combined with symptomatic medications such as pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and cough suppressants. Commonly used medications include:
● Antibiotics: Some common antibiotics include Cefaclor, Cefuroxim, Cefpodoxim, etc. If allergic to beta-lactam antibiotics, they can be replaced with macrolide antibiotics like Erythromycin, Clarithromycin, Azithromycin. If the patient responds to initial antibiotic treatment, the treatment should continue for 7-10 days. If no response is observed, treatment should follow an antibiotic susceptibility test.
● Antipyretic and pain-relieving medications: Paracetamol, Ibuprofen.
● Anti-inflammatory drugs: Prednisolone, Methylprednisolone.
● Decongestants and anti-edema medications: Alphachymotrypsin.
● Topical medications: Gargling with saline solution (0.9% NaCl) or a solution of sodium bicarbonate and sodium borate in warm water. Nasal drops with a mild antiseptic.
It is crucial to use medications according to the prescribed dosage. Patients may experience symptom relief after a few days of treatment, but the medication course should continue until completion, especially for antibiotics.
In cases such as chronic tonsillitis with frequent flare-ups, tonsils that are excessively enlarged causing difficulty swallowing, snoring, speech disorders, and delayed development in children, or tonsillitis causing complications such as arthritis, heart inflammation, or kidney disease, the doctor may consider tonsillectomy for the patient.
During treatment, patients need to rest, eat lightly, drink plenty of fluids, and improve nutrition by adding zinc, protein, and vitamins A, C, E, and D through food and supplements to boost immune function. Ear pain and other tonsillitis symptoms will disappear when the disease is treated properly.
To prevent tonsillitis, patients should avoid contact with people suffering from respiratory illnesses, keep warm during seasonal changes, treat underlying conditions such as adenoid inflammation, sinusitis, rhinitis, and dental infections, maintain a clean living environment, exercise regularly, and ensure a balanced diet to strengthen immunity and reduce the risk of illness.
Vinmec International General Hospital diagnoses and treats common nose and throat diseases, head, neck tumors, congenital ear, nose, and throat conditions using the most optimal medical and surgical methods for both children and adults. At Vinmec, patients will receive direct, attentive, and professional care from a team of skilled, experienced medical staff.
Dr. Nguyễn Văn Thái, former ENT specialist and Head and Neck Surgeon at Hue Central Hospital’s ENT Department with over 17 years of experience, especially in Head and Neck Surgery, is currently an ENT specialist at the General Examination and Internal Medicine Department at Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.
