Medical Health Encyclopedia

Ear emergencies


InjuryDiseasesNutritionPoison
SymptomsSurgeryTestSpecial Topic
Ear anatomy
Ear anatomy
External and internal ear
External and internal ear
First aid kit
First aid kit
Foreign object in ear
Foreign object in ear
Foreign object removal
Foreign object removal
Ruptured eardrum
Ruptured eardrum
Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention
Definition

Ear emergencies include objects in the ear canal and ruptured eardrums.

See also: Acoustic trauma


Considerations

Children often stick objects into their ears. These objects can be difficult to remove because the ear canal is a tube of solid bone that is lined with thin, sensitive skin. Any object pressing against the skin can be very painful. In many cases, a doctor will need to use special instruments to examine the ear and safely remove the object.


Causes

Pain, hearing loss, dizziness, ringing in the ear, and ruptured eardrums can be caused by:

  • Inserting cotton swabs, toothpicks, pins, pens, or other objects into the ear.
  • Sudden changes in pressure, as from an explosion, blow to the head, flying, scuba diving, falling while water skiing, or being slapped on the head or ear.
  • Loud percussions, such as a gun going off.


Review Date: 08/03/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).




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