Suggest Treatment For Pain And Whooshing Sound On The Ear

Posted on Mon, 29 Jun 2015

Question: Earlier this week, I had pain on both side of my hear when I touched my skin. Not internal but on the skin, now I have no more pain but this whooshing sound in my left ear. Like water running through it and I also hear my heart beat sometimes. Very annoying.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (34 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Otitis externa, ENT exam , EKG if persistent palpitations

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

Based upon your description it is most likely to be Otitis Externa Ear canal and ear drum should also be examined to rule out any further depth of infection.Anti-inflammatory medication like NSAIDs to relieve any swelling/inflammation present. Analgesic and topical eardrops including combinations of ciprofloxacin and lignocaine or dexamethasone can be advised. Acetic acid drops can also be added. The whooshing sound you described is most probably due to a dysfunction / improper opening and closing of the eustachian tube that links the nasopharynx to the middle ear. This can be secondary to sinusitis, otitis media etc. Oral antibiotics can be prescribed if focus of infection is isolated in the ENT exam. The unpleasant sensation/awareness of the heart beating is called palpitation which is very common and occurs transiently in most people. It can also be secondary to or associated with stress/anxiety. If you are worried and the palpitations occur more frequently or persist for a longer duration then please get an EKG done to rule out any cardiac issue.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below

http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107

Dr. M.S. Khalil

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar