I Feel Dizzy and My Ear Itches: What Does it Mean?

Q.

I need your help please. I've been having a weird feeling inside my head. It's not like a headache but it makes me feel dizzy. My ear is always itchy inside and it's driving me crazy.

What is causing this and what can I do about it?

A.

Firstly, we have to make it clear that any advice we give is not a substitute for checking this problem with your own doctor. He or she will be in a much better position to tell you what is wrong by actually speaking with you and by examining you.

Having said that, the symptoms you describe are often associated with an ear infection called otitis externa. There are two main sorts of ear infection, otitis externa and otitis media. Each one has slightly different systems because of the different parts of the ear that are involved.

In otitis externa, the infection is in the outer ear, not the inner ear. It is very common in people who swim a lot. Either bacteria or fungi have got into the outer ear and this usually happens when the ear is often wet and the water from swimming pools can obviously carry all sorts of bugs, despite the chlorine. It can also start because of inflammation caused by an irritant. Getting hair dye or hairspray or hair gel in your ear if your skin is sensitive can be enough to irritate the skin. Rubbing and scratching the very outer part of the ear then causes more inflammation and the skin then becomes very prone to infection.

As well as itching, it is common for there to be some discharge and an earache that is worse when you move the ear lobe or jaw. Do your symptoms get worse after eating? Your hearing may also not be as good as usual and you might have a low-grade fever. Dizziness is, however, more of a symptom of otitis media, an ear infection where the inner ear is affected. You can also feel sick with this, more so than with otitis externa. This is because the inner ear controls the normal body perception of motion and is responsible for balance. Disturbances of motion, such as on a ferry in a rough sea, confuse the brain because of the say the fluid is moving in the inner ear – which is why we get sea-sick.

We would strongly suggest seeing your doctor to check the ear out. Most ear infections resolve on their own but the GP may suggest some ear drops or even antibiotics if the ear infection is serious and is caused by a bacterium. In the meantime, avoid swimming and keep the ear as dry as possible in the shower. Try not to irritate it further by scratching and rubbing and try taking a mild painkiller such as paracetamol if you know you are OK to take this type of medication as it can help with the itching and any earache.

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