Why is bleeding from the ears: causes and treatment

The most common cause of ear bleeding is mechanical damage to the ear canal or eardrum from trauma. In addition, bleeding is possible with various infections of the inner ear. The main reasons can be divided into:

• Mechanical damage due to trauma.
• Infectious diseases.
• Various neoplasms and tumors.
• Other diseases.

Let’s consider in more detail each group of causes of bleeding in more detail.

Here it is necessary to distinguish separately between damage to the ear itself and injuries to the bones of the skull, therefore it is always important to differentiate in time a possible cause for correct treatment.

The following injuries can be distinguished here:

• Scratches and minor abrasions of the ear canal while cleaning them from accumulated earwax. Most damage occurs as a result of clumsy movements during cleaning, more serious injuries can be caused by using various objects that are not designed for such actions.
• Injury to the eardrum can result from the use of sharp objects when cleaning the ear canal.
• Severe blow to the ear, for example during boxing.
• Skull trauma, skull fracture as a result of falls from a height, accidents. A very serious condition, the victim must be taken to a hospital as soon as possible, and if it is impossible to call an ambulance.
• Concussion as a result of the impact of the blast wave, as a result of which the eardrum bursts, which is accompanied by bleeding from the ears as well as from the nose.
• When immersed in water at great depths, a sharp drop in pressure can damage and rupture the eardrum.
• If the child has bleeding from the ear, it is necessary to urgently consult an otolaryngologist. This can cause a foreign body to enter the ear cavity and damage the eardrum.

A timely visit to a doctor in case of mechanical damage is largely able to preserve hearing in the future and prevent adverse consequences. Treatment is indicated depending on the severity of the injury, from simple surface antiseptic treatment to surgery.

Infectious and inflammatory ear diseases in advanced cases are the main causes of acquired deafness and hearing loss. There are the following infectious diseases:

• Myringitis is an acute infection, caused by transferred viruses, as well as a bacterial infection that develops in the middle ear.
• Acute otitis media – causes of occurrence are complications of infectious diseases, viral infections – for example, a complication after influenza, chronic tonsillitis.
• Fungal infection of the ear (candidiasis) – the causative agents of the disease are the well-known yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida. Due to damage to the surface of the ear canal, lesions of capillaries, discharge with an admixture of blood may appear. The disease is accompanied by severe itching and profuse discharge from the middle ear cavity.
• Furuncle – with mechanical damage to the ear canal and a decrease in the general immunity of the body, staphylococci can cause the formation of infiltrates. When the boil ripens, pus with an admixture of blood flows out of the ear.

Infectious diseases, when properly treated with antibiotics and antifungal drugs, do not cause further complications. But the main thing is a timely appeal to a specialist and correct diagnosis.

Benign tumors can be a source of constant bleeding from the ear, timely diagnosis and treatment will save you not only hearing, but sometimes life, because degeneration into a cancerous tumor can occur at any time.

Among the neoplasms are distinguished:

• Polyps are abnormal overgrowth of tissues, as a rule, they form on the surface of the ear canal and often serve as a source of bleeding.
• Ear carcinoma is a malignant neoplasm in the area of ​​the middle ear, with excessive proliferation, blood vessels in the adjacent tissues can be damaged, as a result, this can cause bleeding.

Surgical treatment is performed depending on the type of neoplasm.

Other diseases

Ear bleeding very often occurs in people suffering from high blood pressure, with hypertensive crises, rupture of small vessels in the middle ear is possible.

Treatment

First of all, it is necessary to properly seat the patient so that the blood flows out unhindered, in no case should a tampon be applied. After that, you need to seek medical help for diagnosis. In no case should you self-medicate !!!