Ear hole pain, i.e., pain in the ear canal, may be associated with diseases such as external auditory canal boils, acute diffuse otitis externa and cerumen embolism.
1. Boils of the external auditory canal: When water enters the ear canal, ear digging, endocrine disorders and malnutrition, the skin follicles or sebaceous glands of the cartilaginous part of the external auditory canal can be infected by staphylococcus and other bacteria. If the lesion occurs at the ear hole, severe earache occurs, which may radiate to the same side of the head.
2. Acute diffuse otitis externa: the cause is similar to boils of the external auditory canal, which is a diffuse acute infection of the skin of the external auditory canal. If the affected area is in the ear hole, there is a burning sensation and slight pain in the ear at the beginning of the disease.
3. Cerumen embolism: When the cerumen glands of the external auditory canal are over-secreted and poorly drained, cerumen may accumulate in the ear canal and form embolism. If water ingress causes the embolus to swell, pulls on the auricle or squeezes behind the outer ear, it may lead to irritation of the skin at the ear hole and result in a painful sensation.
When the ear hole is painful, there are other possibilities to seek active medical attention and systematic examination to clarify the diagnosis and cause.