Pain in the left ear, radiating to half of the face and causing headache.
Jun 05, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Xu Gang
Introduction
Pain in the left ear radiating to half of the face along with headache may be caused by trigeminal neuralgia, acute otitis media, parotitis, or other reasons, and can be relieved through physical methods or medication. The exact pathogenesis of trigeminal neuralgia remains unclear, but it may be triggered by inflammatory infections, trauma, excessive mental stress, or other factors. Clinically, it mainly presents as episodic facial pain on one side.
In general, pain in the left ear accompanied by pain in half of the face and headache may be caused by conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia, acute otitis media, or mumps. Symptoms can be relieved through physical therapies, medications, and other treatments. Specific analyses are as follows:
1. Trigeminal Neuralgia
The exact pathogenesis of trigeminal neuralgia is not fully understood, but it may be triggered by inflammatory infections, trauma, excessive mental stress, or other factors. Clinically, patients typically experience sudden, sharp, cutting or tearing facial pain, often accompanied by facial muscle twitching and ear swelling or pain. Physical treatments such as acupuncture or needle embedding at a hospital can effectively alleviate symptoms.
2. Acute Otitis Media
When the body is affected by a viral infection, the virus may travel retrograde through the Eustachian tube to the middle ear, causing local inflammatory changes. Main symptoms include severe ear pain, a sensation of ear fullness or blockage, and purulent discharge. As the condition worsens, inflammatory factors may irritate surrounding tissues, leading to headache and facial pain. Treatment may include antiviral medications such as oseltamivir phosphate capsules or ribavirin granules, taken as prescribed by a physician.
3. Mumps
If the body is infected with the mumps virus, the virus spreads to the salivary glands (parotid glands), causing local irritation and resulting in symptoms such as headache, muscle aches, and parotid gland swelling. Medications such as ribavirin tablets or ibuprofen sustained-release capsules may be taken under medical guidance for treatment.
In addition to the above relatively common causes, similar symptoms may also result from other conditions such as herpes zoster, glaucoma, or temporomandibular joint disorder. Appropriate diagnostic evaluations should be completed to identify the underlying cause and guide targeted treatment.
