Blood in the ear

Blood in the ear Although it may seem bad at first, it is in most cases absolutely harmless. The bleeding is often caused by minor injuries caused by incorrect or improper ear cleaning. More rarely, a more severe disease is the cause of ear bleeding.

What is blood in the ear

In most cases, the cause of blood in the ear is very harmless. Often these are minor injuries in the ear caused by improper ear cleaning or scratching of the ear.

If the person concerned discovers blood in the ear, the initial shock is often very great. These are almost always only small injuries caused by mechanical impact, which have arisen during ear cleaning or to calm itching in the ear, and which can bleed more or less heavily. The blood is often discovered on the cotton swab that was inserted into the ear canal to clean the ears. Often no fresh blood is discovered at all, only the incrustations of an already ended bleeding.

The bleeding in the ear can also be painful or severe, in which case a doctor should be consulted who can clarify the cause. In the event of extreme symptoms, a doctor should be consulted immediately, unless otherwise possible, go to an emergency room.

causes

In most cases, the cause of blood in the ear is very harmless. Often these are minor injuries in the ear caused by improper ear cleaning or scratching of the ear. Such injuries usually cause hardly any pain and are completely harmless, so that they do not require any further treatment.

However, there could also be more serious causes. Blood may be present in the ear after an accident or if the head has to suffer other acts of violence. This should be seen as a warning sign, in addition to a skull base fracture, cerebral haemorrhage can also be the cause.

Loud noises can also be responsible for blood in the ear, this is referred to as a pop trauma. If the eardrum has been injured in the process, bleeding can occur in the ear.

Another cause can be infections in the ear, such as a severe otitis media. The blood can also be mixed with pus. Very rarely is there blood in the ear because a tumor has formed in the ear canal.

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➔ Medicines for earache and inflammation

Diseases with this symptom

• Pop trauma
• Cerebral hemorrhage
• tumor

• Ear infection
• Inner ear infection
• Otitis media

• Ear canal inflammation
• Skull base fracture
• Eardrum injuries

Diagnosis & course

Home remedies ↵ for ear
pain A detailed discussion between the doctor and patient should be the first step in the diagnosis. The doctor will ask about all the relevant things that are important for a diagnosis. The most important thing here is when the bleeding occurred and whether a certain event preceded it.

Then the doctor will perform an optical examination of the ear canal and try to locate the injured area using an ear speculum, the otoscope. The entire inner ear is thoroughly examined in order to find any further injuries.

If the bleeding in the ear was probably caused by an external influence such as an accident or a blow to the head and / or if there are accompanying symptoms such as headache, dizziness and pain, the doctor will order an examination in the computer tomograph to detect bleeding on the detailed image of the inside of the head and to be able to determine their causes.

Complications

Blood in the ear can be harmless, but it can also be very dangerous. The greatest risk is that serious complications, such as cerebral hemorrhage, will not be recognized in time when blood appears in the ear. It would be less life-threatening, but still very uncomfortable, if blood clotted in the ear unfavorably.

If it does not run out completely, but rather coagulates in the area of ​​the fine ossicles or the eardrum, it can quickly impede their healthy function and lead to a restricted sense of hearing. It stays that way until the clotted blood is broken down by the body. Even if the hearing loss is not permanent, it is very uncomfortable for the person concerned. It also takes much longer for clotted blood to break down in the ear than in other places, which is sometimes due to the anatomy of the middle ear. It is therefore possible that blood that has clotted in the ear has to be removed medically and that further treatment is required.

Such interventions in such a sensitive area entail their own risks. If the blood in the ear is the result of an injury, it can become infected and lead to complications. This can happen even if the injury is on the outer ear or in the ear canal and the blood in the ear itself was initially harmless.

When should you go to the doctor?

Those affected usually react in shock to blood in their ears. The cause is almost always harmless. However, to be on the safe side, it is advisable to consult a doctor if there is blood in your ear. This is especially true when there is pain or the bleeding is heavier.

The most common cause of blood in the ear is from minor injuries. Often they are caused by clumsy or improper cleaning of the ears. Even with itching, there is often unfavorable manipulation of the ear with subsequent blood leakage. Blood in the ear does not only mean fresh blood, but also dried bread from an older injury.

Other typical causes of blood in the ear are an otitis media and a bang trauma caused by loud noises that damaged the eardrum.

An absolute warning sign is blood leaking from the ear after a force on the head, be it through an accident or a physical attack. Here there is an urgent suspicion of a fractured skull or cerebral hemorrhage. The emergency doctor must be called immediately!

For the other possible reasons for blood in the ear, specialists such as an ear, nose and throat doctor or internist can be considered in addition to the family doctor.

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Treatment & Therapy

The treatment of blood in the ear is completely dependent on the diagnosis and can involve completely different amounts of effort. If the bleeding was caused by minor injuries, no further treatment is usually necessary.

The wound will heal within a few days and there will be no more discomfort. If the eardrum is injured, it all depends on the severity of the injury. Minor injuries to the eardrum usually heal completely within a few days and cause no further problems. In the case of major injuries to the eardrum, on the other hand, surgery may be necessary to close the eardrum again.

If there is a hole in the eardrum, the doctor will often prescribe an antibiotic to prevent bacterial infection. This is also used if the ear bleeding is due to inflammation or infection.

If the cause of the blood in the ear is a tumorous change within the ear, a biopsy must be carried out to determine whether this tumor consists of malignant or benign cells. A benign tumor is usually easy to remove. In the case of a malignant tumor, additional measures are required such as chemotherapy.

Outlook & forecast

In order to be able to make a prognosis, the cause of the bleeding must first be clarified. If the bleeding in the ear is caused by a foreign body, then a doctor should definitely be consulted. If the bleeding appears and the injury is visible, the wound will heal normally. Unless the inner ear is affected, there is no risk of serious injury to the ear. Nevertheless, the same applies here: Keep the wound clean and pure, otherwise there is a risk of inflammation.

However, if blood leaks from the inner ear, a doctor must find the cause. If the bleeding is accompanied by a headache and fever, this could be a sign of infection or inflammation. If there is bleeding from the ear after an accident, there may be a severe concussion with internal bleeding. If such a clinical picture is not treated appropriately, severe consequential damage can remain.

As a general rule, if the bleeding emerges from the inner ear, a doctor should be consulted. In such a case, the cause of the bleeding must definitely be clarified. This is the only way to ensure full recovery.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines for earache and inflammation

prevention

The most common cause of blood in the ear can be prevented: mechanical impact. This often occurs when the ears are not cleaned properly; some people even counteract itching in the ear with sharp objects. This should be avoided at all costs! Ear cleaning should always be carried out very carefully and carefully. On the other hand, tumor growth in the ear cannot be prevented.

You can do that yourself

Blood in the ear doesn't always have to be the result of a serious medical condition. Vigorous insertion of a cotton swab can cause an injury. Likewise, uncontrolled scratching caused by itching can lead to bleeding. In such cases, it is advisable to first carefully clean the surrounding ear or face area with lukewarm water and a little soap. After drying off, you should look at the injury with the help of a mirror or, even better, with a second helper.

If the bleeding is superficial, it coagulates and dries by itself. The incrustation later falls off by itself. If such bleeding happens on the way, a rolled up tissue can also help. This is carefully inserted into the ear and picks up the bleeding. At the same time, the sensitive area is protected. Some also use a little cotton wool, but this can only be loosened with water if the bleeding is drying.

In rare cases, an insect can also cause bleeding. A clean handkerchief can be helpful to dab off small injuries. If these small aids are not enough or if the injury is more serious, a doctor's visit is advisable.