Bleeding from the ear can be a matter of grave concern, and can easily make you panic. Bleeding from your ear can be due to numerous reasons, and can be from the inner or outer ear. The best approach would be to consult an ENT specialist in Lahore or an ENT specialist in Islamabad immediately to know the cause behind the bleed and get the necessary treatment. The majority of causes that cause an ear to bleed aren’t life-threatening, but a few of them are and may require long-term treatment such as cancer or a head injury.
5 possible reasons behind ear bleeding
1. Ear Infection
Infection in the ear causes inflammation in the middle ear and leads to fluid build-up. When the pressure increases from the build-up, it can tear the eardrum and cause fluid leakage or bleeding from your ear. If you have an ear infection, you may have other symptoms as well which include, fever, minor hearing impairment, blocked nose, and ear pain. Usually, ear infections get better in a few weeks without treatment. If the symptoms worsen, consult a doctor at your earliest.
2. An eardrum rupture or tear
An eardrum separates the middle of the ear from the outer ear. As it’s a thin membrane, it ruptures easily. An ear infection is the most common cause of eardrum rupture. Putting a foreign object in your ears, such as a cotton bud can easily perforate the eardrum resulting in a bleed. Eardrum damage can result in symptoms like vomiting, hearing loss, pain in the ear, sharp ringing noise in the ear, or a spinning sensation.
3. Ear barotrauma
Abrupt changes in the air pressure can cause ear barotrauma. It causes the blockage which you may feel in your ear after landing in a plane, diving, or any such activity. It can cause pain and discomfort in your ear, as well as ear-bleeding in some cases. This condition isn’t concerning in most cases, however medical intervention is essential for proper treatment and diagnosis of whatever is causing the discomfort in your ear.
4. Head Injury
An injury to the head can also cause bleeding from the ear, and in this case, it needs immediate medical care by a professional. Head injuries most commonly happen due to a fall, accident, or trauma to the head. A head injury can cause a concussion, bleeding around the brain, skull fracture, and other severe injuries.
5. Cancer
Even though it’s rare, cancer in the ear can result in bleeding of the ear as well. The majority of cancers occur due to skin cancer in the outer ear. In some rare instances, an ear-bleed can also signify cancer in the middle ear or inner ear. Other symptoms of ear cancer include loss of hearing, ear pain, headache, ringing sensation in the ears, partial facial paralysis, and inflammation in the lymph node.
Is Ear Bleeding dangerous?
Bleeding in the ear is something that needs to be taken care of by an ENT specialist. Depending on the cause of the bleed, the doctor will be able to provide you with the required treatment after diagnosing the cause. Bleeding due to minor issues such as an ear infection can further complicate the issue if it doesn’t get proper treatment. Consistent damage to the ears or untreated ear problems can lead to permanent hearing loss, cognitive difficulty, problems with balance, and other severe issues as well. Treatment for bleeding in the ear include medication, antibiotics, and in case of cancer, surgery.
