The reasons for the appearance of blood from a child’s ear can be different, as well as their nature. In this article we will look at why this symptom may occur, how to provide first aid for bleeding, and in which cases you need to urgently consult a doctor.
Author:
Oganesyan Tigran Sergeevich
otolaryngologist, rhinosurgeon, leading physician of the clinic
Added information about first aid for bleeding from a child’s ear.
The appearance of blood from a child's ear usually frightens parents because, unlike nosebleeds, it seems rare. If you notice bloody discharge, it is better to immediately consult a doctor. The only situation when you don’t need to rush to see an otolaryngologist is minor mechanical damage to the skin of the auricle. In other cases, only an otolaryngologist can correctly determine the cause by examining the ear cavity, prescribing laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures.
Possible diseases
Ear problems can occur at any age, but are usually more common in children. This is due to the fact that in children the size of the middle ear is quite small, so the ear area is most affected. Also, the child has more mucous secretions, which is why you can see frequent coughs and colds, all of which can block the narrow eustachian tube. From the point of view of medical aspects and the anatomical structure of the functions of the ear, there are 3 parts:
- The external auditory canal and the outer ear, they make up the external structure.
- The middle ear, which includes the malleus, incus, and stapes.
- The inner ear, which includes the cochlea, contains fluid and transmits waves to the auditory nerves.
Depending on the fact which part of the ear is affected, appropriate treatment can be carried out.
If there are no obvious signs of the disease, the doctor will prescribe a biochemical blood test:
Structure of the hearing aid
The hearing aid is a complex system that is responsible for a person’s ability to hear sounds. Bleeding can occur in any part of it. Therefore, before finding out the cause of the problem, it is necessary to understand the structure of the organ. It is usually divided into several main zones:
- External part. Consists of the auricle and ear canal. Its main function is to receive the sound signal and direct it to the middle part of the system. The auditory canal is tortuous. It consists of the helix, tragus, antihelix, antitragus. Its surface is lined with a specific fabric. Inside it are glands that produce a secretion that protects the ear from infectious, thermal and mechanical damage.
- Middle part. It includes the auditory tube and the tympanic cavity. Its key task is the transmission of vibrations. This becomes possible thanks to the system of tiny bones that make up the eardrum.
- Inner part. Represented by the vestibular analyzer. With its help, the body manages to maintain a given position in space; it also helps regulate all human movements.
All parts of the auditory organ are very sensitive and easily damaged. This is especially pronounced in childhood, since the immune system of children does not function at full strength and is not able to protect itself from the effects of negative factors.
Blood from ear
Oddly enough, not many people are able to go to the doctor with sore ears and any discharge from them.
Since any fluid that leaks from the ear, including blood, needs immediate examination by an otolaryngologist so that measures can be taken to prevent negative consequences that can even lead to hearing loss. The only bleeding that can stop on its own, being minor, is, as a rule, mechanical damage to the skin of the auricle or ear canal, this can be either a scratch or a small wound. If a nosebleed is a surprise, then the appearance of droplets of blood from the ear is completely bewildering, especially if it occurs in a child.
The causes of bleeding from the ears are very specific and, as a rule, require rapid diagnosis, as well as medical attention. Based on the anamnesis, it is possible to determine in what situation damage to the ear vessels could be expected, for example, when using various objects with the help of which they try to eliminate itching in the ear, or with excessive efforts during the removal of earwax, with such actions damage mucous membrane is a predictable consequence.
Physiology of the auricle
The lumen of the blood vessels supplying the ear is extremely narrow, therefore, in the event of damage to the blood flow of the ear, it takes a lot of time to restore the function of the organ.
The ear canal is equipped with “cilia”. These are tiny hairs that serve to cleanse the organ of impurities. The secretion of earwax varies from person to person, and its excess can clog the passage. To avoid the formation of ear plugs, it is necessary to clean your ears daily, and using a traditional ear stick equipped with cotton wool is unsafe. The sticks irritate the skin and move the wax inside the ear, increasing the risk of plug formation.
Ear structure
Mechanical damage
Mechanical damage to the ears includes:
- Traumatic brain injuries, which are accompanied by the appearance of blood from the ears, regardless of the nature of the damage;
- Damage to the eardrum that occurs mechanically. They are one of the few cases where bleeding can be expected due to the use of objects that are used to relieve discomfort in the ears.
Blood transfusion for acne and furunculosis:
Infectious causes
Infectious causes include:
- Boils in the ears, where the main symptoms of the disease are associated with an increase in local temperature, the appearance of redness in the ear area, as well as the appearance of swelling, and when the boil opens, pus and blood come out;
- Myringitis is an infection of the eardrum, which is an inflammatory disease, accompanied by severe pain and the formation of a vesicle with serous contents in the ear. Basically, with myringitis, local as well as general temperature is increased, which brings a lot of unpleasant sensations, which begin to subside after blood and exudate begin to flow out;
- Candidiasis of the ear. In this disease, fungi of the genus Candida develop in many organs and systems, this occurs after the patient has undergone an intensive course of antibiotic therapy, so the lack of microflora and weakened immunity create an excellent environment for the proliferation of fungi, the result of inflammation is fragility of blood vessels, which is fraught with bleeding, and possibly even that blood from the ear will become profuse;
- The most common cause of bleeding from the ear is otitis media and inflammation of the middle ear. With this disease, the body temperature rises and unbearable pain in the ear is observed, one-sided headache, dizziness and weakness are often observed, when the abscess is opened, relief occurs, but if the blood has flowed out of the ear and there is no pus, but the pain has gone away, this is an alarming sign and requiring urgent specialist intervention.
Causes related to oncology
Causes of cancer include:
- A glomus tumor is a benign formation that appears on the jugular vein, and as it grows it moves closer to the ear, causing tinnitus, dizziness, and profuse bleeding from the ear;
- Hypertrophic inflammation of the outer ear, as well as polyp growth. Bleeding polyps grow greatly, after which they are clearly visible in the ear canal, and quite often they can protrude beyond the ear. In this case, hearing loss, dizziness, and migraine may occur;
- Benign and malignant neoplasms in the ear. The most common oncological process is squamous cell carcinoma of the middle and outer ear, in which blood from the ear is the first symptom.
How does blowing your nose affect your ears?
If the technique of emptying the nose is incorrect, high pressure is created in the middle ear and nasal contents are refluxed through the short and wide infant Eustachian tube into the ear cavity, which can lead to otitis media, bleeding from the nose and ear. To prevent this from happening, it is important to teach your child to blow his nose safely.
Common mistakes:
- blow your nose through two nostrils at the same time;
- blow your nose with your mouth open;
- blowing your nose with one nostril closed and at the same time frequently closing the other nostril;
- blowing your nose with frequent simultaneous closing and opening of both nostrils.
How to empty your nose correctly
You should inhale air through your mouth, close one nostril and sharply exhale air from the lungs through the other nostril, which remains open. Do not blow out air in small, frequent bursts. Blow your nose as if you were trying to blow out a candle.
An absolute condition for preventing bleeding is prevention, which consists of creating a safe environment for the child to play and develop, preventing infection from entering the middle ear, through timely treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract, as well as by teaching the child to blow his nose correctly and clean his ears.
From the following video you will learn about the signs of otitis media in a child:
Read: Runny nose in a child under one year old
27 Feb 2021 Valeria 424
Share this post
We recommend reading along with this article
- Treatment of otitis in children according to the principle of Dr. Komarovsky
- Finding out why hydrogen peroxide hisses
- High temperature without symptoms in a child. What to do?
- Your child has a very sore throat, how to quickly relieve the pain
- Bleeding gums in pregnant women: treatment and prevention
- Papillomavirus during pregnancy - cosmetic...
- Intracranial pressure in a child: how to check if there is...
- How to cure chronic tonsillitis in a child, what remedies...
- How to treat a runny nose at home using traditional medicine?
Discussion: there is 1 comment
- Olga:
03/02/2018 at 04:10Regardless of the cause of bleeding from the ear, it is imperative to show the child to a doctor, since parents are not always able to understand the current situation, which delays precious time.
Answer
Providing first aid
First medical aid for damage to the auricle in a child consists of removing all possible contaminants, which should be done using a sterile bandage or gauze, also rinsing with warm boiled water, treating the edges of the wound with an alcohol solution of iodine and applying a bandage. Then the child must be taken to a medical facility, where he will receive medical care.
If the eardrum ruptures, it is necessary to close the external auditory canal using a sterile cotton swab or bandage, after which you need to apply a bandage to the ear, then immediately take the child to the hospital.
Recommendations
These include:
- It is necessary to reduce in the diet foods that contribute to the formation of mucus, which include: refined foods, especially white sugar, dairy products;
- The constant accumulation of sulfur leads to the need for “rinsing”, which is performed exclusively by a doctor, a specialist in this field of medicine, especially if this procedure is to be performed on a child. Before this, drops or baths are used, when the child’s ear is immersed in pleasant warm water. During this procedure, it is necessary to hold the child's head;
- There are special solutions that help soften earwax, they are sold in pharmacies, they are safe and more effective than chemical and naturopathic components, you can also use heated olive oil, which has a beneficial effect;
- You cannot use special candles when removing earwax at any age, especially for children;
- There is no need to try to clean your ears by sticking objects into them.
Baby's ears are bleeding
What does this mean and what should I do?
- Candidiasis - antifungal drugs are used, both externally and internally;
- Purulent otitis - analgesics, antibiotics, camphor oil are taken;
- Acute otitis - the ear is washed with saline, olive oil is used in the form of ear drops;
- Abrasions and scratches - the ear is treated with an antiseptic Furuncle Analgesics, as well as a solution of boric acid;
- Rupture of the eardrum - rest is necessary, use a tampon moistened with an antiseptic solution, if a fracture of the skull bones requires an urgent call to the doctor.
Treatment
After the final diagnosis is determined, treatment is prescribed. Mild cases allow drug treatment on an outpatient basis. Moderate and severe cases require hospitalization. If the cause of the pathology is otolaryngological diseases, drug treatment with the following drugs is prescribed:
- antifungal drugs for ear candidiasis (Pimafucin, Clotrimazole, Miramidez, Candibiotic);
- antiseptic solutions for disinfection (Chlorhexidine, Miramistin, Furacilin, sodium chloride);
- anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs (Ibuprofen, Nurofen);
- antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Ceftriaxone, Azithromycin, Amoxiclav);
- antibacterial ear drops (Otinum, Otofa, Dexona, Polydexa, Anauran).
The dosage is determined according to the patient’s age, his clinical history and the severity of the pathological process. Usually treatment lasts about 7-10 days. Bleeding goes away immediately after the true cause of the pathology is eliminated.
Severe injuries may require surgery. Surgical correction is prescribed for injuries, tumors, and advanced forms of purulent otitis media. Surgery is also prescribed if conservative treatment methods are ineffective or if their use is inappropriate.
Rupture of the eardrum
Perforation is a rupture of the eardrum, usually associated with trauma or infection of the middle ear. With a middle ear infection, pressure occurs from the outside, causing significant pain until the eardrum bursts and the pain subsides. Characteristic signs of a ruptured membrane are accompanied by the release of blood from the ear.
An injury caused by a loud explosion or a strong blow to the ear leads to a rupture of the membrane inward. With such a rupture, a very sharp pain is characteristic, followed by a dull pain. Hearing may deteriorate, it all depends on the reasons for the rupture of the membrane, the size of the rupture, and whether there is damage to the small bones of the ear.
Recommendations
- Small tears or perforations usually heal. But if there are extensive lesions, the help of a qualified surgeon may be needed;
- If any symptoms appear that are accompanied by a ruptured eardrum, you should immediately consult a doctor;
- If the rupture is caused by an infection, there may be a need to take antibiotics, as naturopathic and homeopathic treatments are too slow to work and the infection may worsen the rupture or destroy the eardrum. It will be easier to deal with side effects after taking antibiotics than to repair a fairly serious damage to the eardrum.
In the case of an infectious nature of the appearance of blood from the ear, the child will have elevated leukocytes in the blood test:
Treatment tactics
In all cases where, during ear cleaning, a child experiences pain, bleeding and hearing loss, the patient should be examined by an otolaryngologist.
Using instrumental diagnostics, a specialist must determine the condition of the eardrum. In the absence of perforation, ear drops are prescribed, which have an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. In this case, it could be Sofradex, Otipax, Otinum. If there is a perforation of the eardrum, these products cannot be used due to the presence of ototoxic components in their composition.
At the same time, in the presence of an injured eardrum, the prescription of ear drops containing antibiotics, Tsipromed, Normax, Otofa, is indicated. In addition, medications and physiotherapeutic procedures are indicated to help restore the integrity of the eardrum. In cases where, despite conservative treatment, there is still a sufficient hole in it, the question of surgical intervention to restore its integrity and carry out reconstruction may be raised.
In order for the disease to have a more favorable course, a patient with a mechanical injury to the eardrum should be immediately examined by a specialist. In this case, all his instructions must be strictly followed.
What is not safe for the ear
If any foreign body gets into the ear, you should not, under any circumstances, try to remove it yourself, especially in this case using sharp objects, using pins, hairpins, toothpicks, all this can lead to injury, and this can also damage the eardrum.
There is no need to try to remove round objects using tweezers, because there is a possibility that you can push the object much deeper. You need to contact an ENT doctor who can quickly and safely remove the foreign object, and if necessary, he will prescribe additional treatment.
- Author: Boris
How did I become a doctor? Quite a difficult question... If you think about it, there was no choice. I was born into the family of a resuscitation doctor, and every day at dinner I heard my father’s story about how his day went. As a child, this all seemed fantastic, beyond reality. Rate this article:
- 5
- 4
- 3
- 2
- 1
(1 vote, average: 5 out of 5)
Share with your friends!
