Acute otalgia is simply defined as ear pain that has a sudden onset and is of short duration. Otalgia itself can be further classified based on the origin of the pain [1, 2]:
- Primary otalgia: The pain originates from within the ear itself. Common causes include:
- External otitis (outer ear infection)
- Otitis media (middle ear infection)
- Mastoiditis (infection of the mastoid bone)
- Auricular infections (infections of the outer ear structure)
- Referred otalgia: The pain originates from outside the ear but is felt in the ear.
Therefore, acute otalgia refers to ear pain (either primary or referred) that develops quickly and doesn't last for an extended period.
