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Any discharge from the ear should be cause for concern. There may be different causes of ear leakage. Blood from the ear or other discharge may be the result of an injury, inflammation of the ear. Regardless of the reasons, you should make a check-up with a specialist doctor who, in addition to a full interview, should order thorough examinations.
The ear is an organ that is supposed to be responsible not only for receiving and processing sounds, but also for maintaining balance. Since the ear is connected directly to the throat, infections that develop in the mouth and throat can spread to the ear. Therefore, any untreated infections involving the mouth or throat can also result in symptoms in the ear.
Blood from the ear – causes
Blood from the ear is when blood-colored discharge or blood itself comes out of the ear canal. Most often, blood from the ear does not flow out in large amounts, but any such situation should be consulted with an ENT specialist. Of course, it happens that blood from the ear is the result of a mechanical injury, some people clean their ears with ear buds, which is not advisable precisely because of the increased risk of damage to the inner ear.
In children, blood from the ear is the most common cause of trauma to the external auditory canal. This should not be a problem, but only if there are no other symptoms such as earache, headache, fever, or balance disorder. Blood from the ear may also be the result of a foreign body getting into the ear, in such a situation you should not try to remove it yourself. The foreign body should be removed by an ENT or surgeon using specialized equipment. The ear is a very delicate organ, so all even small and seemingly harmless pathological changes can lead to inflammation, swelling or just a leak from the ear.
If there is an injury and there is blood from the ear, you should ask for a consultation to check if the eardrum has not been damaged, although it is a durable and strong structure whose task is to protect the ear, but in case of severe trauma, it may unfortunately be severed . In addition, if there is blood from the ear with a severe trauma, there is a suspicion that the skull has been injured or blood vessels are ruptured, therefore you should not delay the visit to the doctor. When the skull is damaged, white secretion mixed with blood will be released from the ear, this is the spinal-cerebral fluid. Another cause of blood coming from the ear is inflammation of the middle ear. In this ailment, apart from the discharge, there is primarily earache, which cannot be relieved by painkillers. There is also a high fever with a sick ear, and great discomfort, even anxiety.
Blood from the ear – treatment
Since blood from the ear may have various causes, the same is true of treatment, which should be tailored to a specific ailment. It is very important that you do not clean your ears with any secretions, do not spray drops into the ear or water. The laryngologist or the surgeon will decide on the method of treatment. Very often drugs that are used in ear infections are not only analgesic, but also anti-inflammatory, very often antibacterial ointments or drops with a similar effect are used. In more severe cases, most often a surgeon’s intervention and a surgical solution are required.