Even a small amount of blood appears when cleaning the auricle, especially cotton swab — alarm signal not worth ignoring. After all, it may indicate damage to the skin or rupture eardrum ... Blood in the ear is a powerful argument for seeking help from a specialist, even if there is no pain syndrome.
Fundamental rules
Even, it would seem, in such a simple procedure as cleaning the ears, there are nuances and rules that you need to know and carefully follow in order not to harm your health. The main recommendations are:
- choosing the right cotton swab for cleaning your ears (it should be completely covered with a layer of cotton wool at the ends, not have any sharp edges);
- gently run a slightly damp cotton swab over the outer ear, do not go deeper;
- under no circumstances try to clean your ears with a toothpick, match or hairpin (you can easily push through sulfur plug deep);
- clean only the outer ear canal(to avoid trauma to the eardrum);
- cleansing the auricle can be done in the shower (soap your hands, run your finger along the external auditory canal, and wipe dry with a coarse towel);
- hygiene procedures with the ears should be carried out no more than 2 times a week (after all, to maintain normal level microflora in them there should be a little sulfur).
The usual thing
Often, blood in the ears appears after cleaning even with a seemingly safe cotton swab. This can happen if the person during the procedure pushed under the elbow, or be the result of ear diseases.
Why do they appear?
- Recent trauma to the skull (blood may not start to flow immediately, but after a few days).
- Careless ear cleaning (damage to the eardrum due to deep penetration of the stick into the ear canal).
- (if blood appears with otitis media, you should immediately contact an ENT specialist).
- Fungal and viral infections(at inadequate hygiene the auricle can develop pathogens).
- Hypertension - increase intracranial pressure(also characterized by bleeding not only from the nose, but also from the ears).
- Neoplasms in inner ear- polyps, malignant and benign tumors.
- Blood diseases - hemophilia and anemia.
- Acquired deformities of the hearing organs.
Prevention measures
First, you need to find out the etymology of this bleeding, if the examination shows distinct scratch in the ear, the volume of blood is a couple of drops, then do not panic, you need to install a cotton swab. If it does not help, and the bleeding does not stop, then resort to a set of measures:
- In the case when the bleeding is significant, you should replace the tampon and urgently consult a specialist.
- Alcohol drops should not be instilled into the ear canal.
- Do not rinse the damaged ear yourself.
- In the case of a strong pain syndrome the reception of Paracetamol or Ibuprofen is indicated.
- It is forbidden to throw your head back, it is necessary for the blood to flow out of the ear, and not fall into its middle section.
- If the tissues of the outer ear are damaged, then the use of antibacterial drugs- Amoxicillin and vasoconstrictor - Sanorin, as well as anti-inflammatory - Phenazone.
IMPORTANT! The drugs are prescribed strictly by the doctor! Self-designation is inadmissible!
Why did the red discharge go when the child cleaned the auricle?
In children, the most common causes of blood on a stick are damage to the ear canal, either trauma to the skin, or a puncture of the tympanic membrane, or internal pimple, wen or polyp. If the mother (or one of the relatives) poked and damaged the delicate baby skin inside the ear with a cotton swab, first of all, you need to track the baby's reaction - whether it caused pain, the color of the blood and its abundance.
If the child does not complain of pain, then you can not call an ambulance, but the next day, be sure to contact an otolaryngologist.
In case of pain and heavy bleeding - Call an ambulance immediately and never go into your ear to continue cleaning.
Only a doctor will prescribe the correct and competent treatment. Before the ambulance arrives, you need to cover your ear with a cotton swab and provide the child with peace.
How to avoid?
Blood in the ears after an improperly performed hygiene procedure is a common problem in both adults and children. Therefore it is necessary to apply clear algorithm cleaning the external auditory canal in children:
IMPORTANT! Do not use undiluted peroxide for this procedure, because it significantly dries the skin!
Useful video
Check out the video on how to clean your ears with a cotton swab below:
Conclusion
Ear cleaning is a common procedure, which also has its own secrets and subtleties. This hygienic procedure must be very careful, because the health of a person and his ability to hear depend on its quality. Follow the recommendations and blood on a cotton swab will never bother you!
Last updated article: 04/30/2018
Children are interested in everything around. They are constantly searching and researching how the world and opportunities own body... The time has come when your toddler decided to figure out what would happen if you put a small object in your ear. But the problem is that putting something in your ear is much easier than getting it out of there later. And then it happened that the child thrust a cotton swab or other object into his ear. When such a situation arises, the most important thing is not to panic. You need to figure out if you need urgent care... If you cannot cope on your own, contact a specialist doctor soon or the next morning (if it happened at night) for help.
ENT doctor
Though foreign object in a child's ear irritates the skin and causes inconvenience; in most cases, urgent medical advice is not required.
But sometimes for the purpose of preventing serious damage an immediate appeal to a medical professional is necessary.
Do not use your bare hands to remove foreign bodies from the ear. Thus, you will only push the object even further. Little children cannot communicate clearly and distinctly what worries them. It is necessary to observe how the baby behaves. If the child is constantly crying, but there is no rise in temperature, there is a swelling around the ear, the baby constantly fiddles with the lower part of the auricle with the handles, all this makes it possible for you to suspect damage to the ear.
First aid
1. You can try to shake the object out of your ear.
To this end, tilt the child's head to one side, then try to shake out the foreign object. Try tilting your head to the injured side. Often, the object simply falls out of the ear.
To straighten the ear canal and make it easier for the object to fall out, you need to pull back a little on the lower part of the ear.
Gently wiggle the ear and the object may fall out due to gravity. No need to bang on your ear or head! You can only try to shake it slightly so as not to cause more serious consequences.
2. Try to remove the foreign body using a pair of tweezers available at home.
It is permissible to use tweezers only when the object is visible and the part that you can hold onto is outside.
Do not stick forceps into your ear canal! Wash the instrument before use. warm water with soap.
Gently try to grab the item with your tweezers and slowly pull it out of your ear.
Do not try to remove with a match, toothpick or other object. So you will only push the foreign body deeper, than complicate further release. If the child does not sit quietly and constantly twitches, it is better to immediately consult a doctor.
If a sharp object is stuck in the child's ear, then urgently go for medical help in order to prevent unwanted consequences.
3. Contact a specialist.
Little children often put tiny batteries in their ear. They are often equipped with wrist watch and other small devices. If you have such a battery in your ear, seek medical attention immediately. Compounds in batteries can leak out, affecting the ear.
You also need to quickly apply for medical advice if a fragment of a plant is stuck in the ear. Especially if it's legumes. By absorbing moisture, they increase with the threat of damaging the ear.
If the baby stuck a cotton swab in his ear, he could touch the membrane. Carefully examine the ear, its outer part. If blood is found, you must immediately consult a doctor to receive timely help, prevent infection and development. Do not try to clean, disinfect the ear, inspect interior abalone. Processing and treatment are carried out only after the doctor examines and prescribes treatment.
4. Prepare for your doctor's appointment.
To do this, you need to collect all important information... Try to find out from the child in detail how a foreign body got into his ear, what kind of object it is.
It is better to find out everything before the doctor arrives, as the child will be afraid of him and will be silent or cry.
Be sure to tell the doctor what exactly is in the child's ear and for how long. Also tell us about what happened and what you did after the hit foreign body in the ear.
How can a doctor help?
Depending on the situation, your doctor may rinse the ear canal with water.
Do not try rinsing your ear at home! Doctors should do this only after examining and assessing the situation.
The doctor will remove any excess with his medical tweezers.
Even if you did not manage to do all this at home, he uses the tools that are most adapted for this case, and he will have more experience in this matter.
Be prepared for pain relief. It is often used to calm babies, since during the procedure, any movements made by the child are undesirable.
Rough movement alone can damage the structures of the ear.
Signs of damage from a foreign object - soreness, discomfort in the ear, bleeding.
Prophylaxis
The damaged membrane heals on its own within two months, depending on the severity of the damage. Subject to timely referral to specialists for help and correct treatment... After removing the foreign body, you cannot swim and wet your ears for 7 to 10 days.
Cover the ear with a cotton swab moistened with oil or petroleum jelly before taking a shower.
You will need to see your doctor again after a few days to make sure normal recovery ear.
To minimize the risk of these situations occurring, try to buy toys that are age appropriate for your child. Look around what “interesting” is in the baby's access zone, where he can reach and take a look. Hide these items in advance to exclude possible childish pranks.
In situations where a foreign body enters the ear or nose, the most important thing is timely diagnosis, therefore, be alert to children and pay attention to any unusual symptoms. The sooner the problem is identified and resolved, the more less consequences she will leave the crumbs for health.
The eardrum (lat.membrana tympani) is a formation that separates the external auditory canal (outer ear) from the middle ear cavity - the tympanic cavity. It has a delicate structure and is easily damaged by various traumatic agents. About what can cause injury to the eardrum, what are clinical manifestations its damage, as well as diagnostic methods and treatment principles this disease and will be discussed in our article.
Eardrum: structural features and functions
As stated above, the eardrum is the border between the outer and middle ear. Most of the web is stretched - securely fixed in the groove temporal bone... In the upper part, the eardrum is not fixed.
The stretched part of the membrane consists of three layers:
- external - epidermal (continuation of the skin of the external auditory canal);
- middle - fibrous (consists of fibrous fibers going in two directions - in a circle (circular) and from the center to the periphery (radial));
- internal - mucous (is a continuation of the mucous membrane lining the tympanic cavity).
The main functions of the eardrum are the protective and the function of conducting sounds. Protective function is that the membrane prevents foreign substances such as water, air, microorganisms, and various objects from entering the tympanic cavity. The mechanism for conducting sounds is as follows: the sound captured auricle, enters the external auditory canal and, reaching the tympanic membrane, causes its vibrations. These vibrations are then transmitted to auditory ossicles and on the rest of the structures of the organ of hearing. When traumatic injuries of the eardrum, both of its functions are impaired to one degree or another.
What can cause injury to your eardrum
Rough handling of sharp objects (such as pencils) can cause ear injury.The integrity of the tympanic membrane can be impaired due to its mechanical damage, physical effects (barotrauma, thermal burns) and chemical ( chemical burns) factors, and also be a consequence. Separately, it should be said about the damage of a military nature - fire (fragmentation or bullet) and detonation (caused by the action of a blast wave).
When a secondary infection is attached, the prognosis depends on how timely its treatment is started and how adequately it is prescribed - sometimes it is possible to cope with inflammatory process conservative methods and almost completely restore the patient's hearing, and sometimes even for a slight restoration of hearing one cannot do without surgery or even hearing aids.
Ear bleeding - alarming symptom, which may indicate damage to the skin in the ear canal or perforation of the membrane. Blood in the ear after brushing is a good reason for seeking help from an otolaryngologist. Mechanical damage tissue leads to a decrease local immunity, which is fraught with the development of opportunistic microorganisms.
According to experts, the occurrence of a problem in 95% of cases is due to non-compliance with the technique of conducting hygiene procedures... If blood appears on a cotton swab, this indicates damage blood vessels in processed fabrics. To restore the integrity of the skin and membranes, you need to use antiseptic drugs local action with analgesic, decongestant and regenerating properties.
Causes of injury
Incorrect conduct hygiene measures often causes injury, as a result of which blood appears in the ear when cleaning. The causes of hemorrhage lie in damage to the network of small capillaries located in upper layers skin. Less often, bloody discharge accumulates in the outer ear when the integrity of the membrane is violated, which is associated with injury with sharp objects or cotton swabs.
Non-stopping ear bleeding may indicate damage benign tumors in the outer ear.
When tissue is injured, hemorrhages are extremely rarely profuse. However, experts warn that if a problem arises, it is necessary to undergo simple treatment using topical agents. In this way, the occurrence of complications caused by the penetration of pathogens through the damaged ear membrane can be prevented.
The harm of cleaning
The ears do not need regular care due to the ability of the ear canal to cleanse itself. Most often occurs after cleaning with a cotton swab, which experts do not recommend using for hygiene procedures. Cleaning the ear canal with hard sticks leads to injury due to specific features.
The auditory canal is conventionally divided into two sections:
- bone - a narrow canal located in front of the tympanic membrane;
- membranous-cartilaginous - the external part of the auditory canal, which contains more than 2000 glands of external secretion.
Sulfur is excreted exclusively in the membranous-cartilaginous section, from where it is easily evacuated to the outside due to the superficial growth of epidermal cells. Self-cleaning ability eliminates the need for regular ear toilet in the absence of ear diseases accompanied by exudation from the tympanic cavity.
Why does blood appear in my ear when cleaning? Using cotton swabs in hygienic purposes Leads to damage to the tympanic membrane or the thin skin in the bony part of the ear canal. Mechanical injury contributes to a decrease in local immunity, as a result of which there is an uncontrolled reproduction of opportunistic microorganisms.
Damage symptoms
Perforation of the ear membrane is evidenced not only by blood in the ear during cleaning, but also sharp pain that quickly dies down. Delayed treatment can lead to the development of complications, which can be signaled by the following symptoms:
- hearing loss;
- dizziness;
- vomiting;
- aching pains;
- tinnitus.
In the presence of large perforated holes in the membrane, patients feel air being evacuated from the sore ear during sneezing or coughing. Despite the ability of the membrane to regenerate, significant damage can only be repaired with surgery. Myringoplasty helps to restore the integrity of the membrane, as a result of which the hearing is sharpened in patients.
Important! Untimely surgical intervention can cause irreversible morphological changes in the ear membrane.
Diagnostics
If blood appears on the stick when cleaning the ear, it is advisable to be examined by an otolaryngologist. For diagnosis, palpation and otoscopy are performed. Carrying out diagnostic procedures allows:
detect puffiness;
- identify damage in the auditory canal;
- assess the degree of damage to the ear membrane;
- determine the presence of foci of inflammation;
- detect spotting.
With extensive perforation of the ear membrane using otoscopy, it is possible to determine the condition of the mucous membrane in the middle ear. The otolaryngologist conducts research using a frontal reflector and a metal funnel. Upon detection inflammatory reactions in the organ of hearing, the membrane will have a reddish tint.
First aid
In case of damage to the ear after hygiene procedures, you should seek help from an ENT doctor. It is undesirable to fill in the ear canal alcohol solutions for disinfection. If there are perforated holes in the ear membrane, fluid will seep into the tympanic cavity, causing aseptic inflammation.
Important! You can not yourself and remove bloody discharge from them. This can cause infection of the middle ear with bacterial, fungal or viral pathogens.
First aid should be limited to the introduction into the ear canal of a sterile gauze turunda, fixed with a bandage. In case of occurrence severe pain it is allowed to give the patient a pain reliever such as Paracetamol or Diclofenac. In the process of transporting a patient, it is advisable to ensure that he does not throw his head back. This can lead to bloody discharge into the middle ear, not the outer ear canal.
The principles of pharmacological treatment are largely determined by the nature of complications arising from damage to the tissues of the outer ear. In order to relieve the symptoms of pathology and prevent the development infectious inflammation can be used:
- antibacterial drugs ("Amoxicillin", "Spiramycin") - prevent the multiplication of microbial pathogens in injured tissues;
- vasoconstrictor drops ("Tizin", "Sanorin") - eliminate puffiness in damaged skin and the ear membrane;
- mucolytic agents ("Fluimucil", "ACC") - accelerate the process of evacuation of liquid secretions from the ear canal that occurs during inflammatory processes;
- anti-inflammatory drugs ("Otinum", "Fenazon") - relieve swelling and prevent the spread of foci of inflammation in the middle ear cavity.
After using ear drops, it is advisable to lay the ear canal with sterile cotton wool or gauze turunda.
Prophylaxis
Blood in the ears during cleaning occurs exclusively when the rules for conducting hygiene procedures are not followed. According to experts, it is impossible to use cotton swabs to cleanse the auditory canals. In addition, cleaning can be done no more than 1 time a month, subject to the following rules:
- dilute 3% hydrogen peroxide in boiled water in a 1: 2 ratio;
- heat the solution to 37-38 degrees;
- drip 2 drops of the prepared preparation into each ear;
- after 10 minutes, remove the liquid with gauze turundas.
Experts recommend using only hydrogen peroxide diluted in water, as the concentrated solution dehydrates the skin in the ear canal. Tissue irritation can cause dysfunction of the sulfur glands and the formation of plugs in the ears.
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