An eardrum rupture is a small hole or tear in eardrum, or tympanic membrane. The tympanic membrane is a thin tissue that divides middle ear and outer ear canal.
This membrane vibrates when sound waves enter ear. The vibration continues through the bones of the middle ear. Because this vibration allows to hear, hearing can suffer if eardrum is damaged.
A ruptured eardrum is also called a perforated eardrum.
Ear infections are a common cause of eardrum rupture, especially in children. During an ear infection, fluids accumulate behind the eardrum. The pressure from the fluid buildup can cause the tympanic membrane to break or rupture.
Other activities can cause pressure changes in the ear and lead to a perforated eardrum. This is known as barotrauma, and it mainly occurs when the pressure outside the ear is drastically different from the pressure inside the ear. Activities that can cause barotrauma include:
Injuries can also rupture your eardrum. Any trauma to the ear or side of the head can cause a rupture. The following have been known to cause eardrum ruptures:
Pain is the main symptom of eardrum rupture. For some, the pain may be severe. It can remain steady throughout the day, or it can increase or decrease in intensity.
Usually the ear begins to drain once pain goes away. the eardrum is ruptured. Watery, bloody, or pus-filled fluids may drain from the affected ear. A rupture that results from a middle ear infection usually causes bleeding. These ear infections are more likely to happen in young children, people with colds or the flu, or in areas with poor air quality.
Belladonna
Intense bouts of earache that come and go very suddenly, with heat and inflammation, suggest a need for this remedy. Pain can be pounding or throbbing, and may be worse from jarring. The person usually has a fever, a flushed red face, eyes that are sensitive to light, and skin that is hot to touch. The right ear is most often affected. A child needing Belladonna may feel drowsy with the fever, or be restless and have nightmares.
Chamomilla
This remedy relieves pain and earaches associated with teething, with irritability and hypersensitivity to pain.
Hepar sulphuris calcareum
This remedy is indicated when an earache is very painful or infection is advanced (with a bulging eardrum or pus formation). Stabbing, sticking pains "like a splinter being driven in" are a likely indication. The person is very sensitive to everything, especially cold and drafts, and may feel extremely vulnerable and touchy.
Mercurius solubilis
This remedy may be helpful if an ear infection is advanced, with pus formation, shooting pains, and roaring in the ear. A person who needs this remedy is often very sensitive to temperatures (both hot and cold), has swollen lymph nodes, offensive breath, a puffy tongue, and sweat and drooling during sleeping.
Pulsatilla
This remedy is often indicated for ear infections that follow or accompany a cold. (Cold symptoms include a stuffy nose, especially indoors, and large amounts of yellow or greenish mucus.) The ear may be hot and swollen, with a feeling that something is pressing out. Pain can be worse in the evening and at night, as well as worse from heat, with a pulsing sensation. Deep itching may be felt inside, especially if ear infections are chronic. A child needing Pulsatilla usually is sad and tearful, wanting to be held and comforted.
Aconitum napellus
This remedy relieves earaches occurring after exposure to very cold weather.
Ferrum phosphoricum
This relieves low-grade fever with weakness and tendency to nosebleeds and earaches.
Kali muriaticum
This relieves ear congestion with cracking sounds in the ear, worsened by the change in pressure.
Magnesia phosphorica
An earache that feels much better when warmth and pressure are applied suggests a need for this remedy. The pain may be mostly neuralgic, with little evidence of fluid or infection.e.t.c