Otalgia in Children

Otalgia, a prevalent symptom in pediatric age groups, is one of the most common causes of hospital admissions. It is a highly distressing condition for both the child and the family, especially in kids below two who cannot articulate their pain. Otalgia may occur due to otologic or non-otologic causes. Otalgia due to otologic causes is termed primary while non-otologic otalgia is called secondary. Primary otalgia with otologic causes is the most common in children. Otologic causes may originate from the auricle, external auditory canal, and middle ear. However, non-otologic conditions with oral, oropharyngeal, laryngeal, dentoalveolar, sinonasal, and musculoskeletal origins may also cause referred otalgia in childhood. Therefore, when it comes to ear pain in children, otologic examination is not enough, other structures in the ear that may cause secondary otalgia should also be examined. In this chapter, primary and secondary causes, clinical diagnosis, and evaluation of otalgia will be covered.