Differential Diagnosis for Right Ear Pain Worse When Swallowing Liquids
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Acute otitis media: This condition is characterized by inflammation of the middle ear and is often associated with ear pain that can be exacerbated by swallowing due to the Eustachian tube's connection between the middle ear and the back of the throat. The pain when swallowing liquids could be due to the movement of fluid or the pressure change in the ear.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Otitis externa (swimmer's ear): Inflammation of the outer ear canal can cause pain, especially when swallowing, due to the shared nerve supply and the movement of the jaw and surrounding structures.
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder: The TMJ is close to the ear, and disorders of this joint can cause referred pain to the ear, especially with movements like chewing or swallowing.
- Eustachian tube dysfunction: Problems with the Eustachian tube, which regulates air pressure in the ear, can lead to ear pain and discomfort, particularly when swallowing.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Malignancy (e.g., nasopharyngeal carcinoma): Although rare, cancers in the head and neck region can cause ear pain, especially if they involve the Eustachian tube or surrounding structures. Missing such a diagnosis could be fatal.
- Lyme disease: In some cases, Lyme disease can cause otitis media or other ear-related symptoms, including pain that worsens with swallowing.
- Mastoiditis: An infection of the mastoid bone in the skull, which can be a complication of untreated otitis media. It requires prompt treatment to prevent serious complications.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Ramsay Hunt syndrome (herpes zoster oticus): A viral infection that affects the facial nerve and can cause ear pain, among other symptoms like facial paralysis and vesicles in the ear.
- Glossopharyngeal neuralgia: A rare condition characterized by recurrent episodes of severe pain in the tongue, throat, ear, and area of the jaw, triggered by swallowing.
- Eagle syndrome (stylalgia): A condition where an elongated or calcified styloid process causes pain in the ear and throat, which can be exacerbated by swallowing.