Otalgia

Question 1

What percentage of otalgia is non-otological?

Answer 1

50%

Question 2

What are the otologic causes of otalgia?

Answer 2

1. Otitis externa

2. Otitis media (+/- effusion)

Question 3

What is this a presentation of?
Earache, facial pain, joint clicking/popping, related to teeth grinding, stress, joint tenderness exacerbated by lateral movement of open jaw.

Answer 3

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (referred pain due to auriculotemporal nerve)

Question 4

What is the management for temporomandibular joint dysfunction?

Answer 4

Simple analgesia, reassurance, CBT

Question 5

What is this a presentation of?

Auricular pain, CN VII palsy, vesicular rash around ear.

Answer 5

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (reactivation of VZV in CN VII)

Question 6

What is the management for Ramsay Hunt syndrome?

Answer 6

PO acyclovir and PO prednisolone

Question 7

What can referred pain to the ear via the tympanic branch of CN IX and auricular branch of CN X be caused by?

Answer 7

Pain from posterior 1/3 of tongue, larynx from cancer/tonsillitis/quinsy.