Ruptured Eardrum - Medtick
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Ruptured Eardrum

What is it?

A ruptured eardrum (tympanic membrane) is a hole or tear in the thin tissue that separates your ear canal from your middle ear (eardrum).

  • A ruptured, or perforated, eardrum prevents the proper transmission of sound waves to the middle ear and leaves the middle ear more exposed to infectious agents, water and other foreign substances entering the ear.
  • The ear drum/tympanic membrane may heal within a few weeks and might not need any treatment, however if it can cause tinnitus symptoms for four weeks as it completely heels.
  • Please not once the ear drum/tympanic membrane is damaged/perforated one can fly on an airplane (its is when there is pressure on the tympanic membrane that causes ear pain).
If your healthcare professional notice a hole of the tympanic membrane/ear drum via otoscope on top corner, this needs to be further investigated as there could be pressure from another source other than sinus

Cause

  • Infection from the sinus or  severe cold and flu symptoms putting pressure on the tympanic membrane.
  • Air pressure changes from a plane ride or scuba diving (Barotrauma)
  • Loud sound (music in a night club or social bar) or blast, as from an explosion or gunshot (acoustic trauma)
  • Injury caused by objects put into your ear, such as cotton swabs, cotton buds
  • Head injury
  • Head contact sports
  • Ear surgeries or procedures

Symptoms

  • Clear and/or thick and/or yellowish, or bloody ear discharge?
  • Hearing loss (can be sudden)?
  • Earache?
  • Ringing or buzzing in your ear?
  • Ear itching?
  • Balance and dizziness?
  • Fever?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition can lead to:

General tips

This condition should be first confirmed by a medical doctor as it can misdiagnosed for:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Ruptured Eardrum in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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