What could be the reason for the pain in both ears?

Question

Hi doctor,

My son is 15 years old and plays tuba in the band. He has been playing for three years before this year. Four months ago, he got the first earache he has ever had on both sides.

We took Ibuprofen, a decongestant, got antibiotic drops, and Prednisone. It worked, and since then, he has had three more recurrences. It is excruciating, and his canals swell to the point the doctor cannot even see his eardrum. It is getting ridiculous. His band director wants me to determine if back pressure could be causing it.

Please help.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern. Excessive continuous blowing through the tube can harm the middle ear. But the complaint that you are describing is related to the external ear.

I can advise you to do some investigations such as tympanometry to assess the middle ear condition, fasting, and postprandial blood sugar test, as diabetes can cause repeated skin and ear infections.

Keep ears dry as much as possible. Do the tests and show me the results. The treatment is just ear drops containing antibiotics, corticosteroids, and oral analgesics.

I hope the information will help.

Thank you.