Ruptured Eardrum from Cotton Swab

A ruptured eardrum could result from inserting a cotton swab in the ear, state researchers in a new study.

It also showed that in most cases the rupture heals on its own and surgery is only necessary for the most severe cases.

Ear Blockage | Clogged Ears
Ear blockage or clogged ear causes include earwax, infection or inflammation. Treatments include de-congesting the Eustachian tubes and using ear drops.

"In the past, many otolaryngologists have wondered if surgery is really necessary to treat a ruptured eardrum. The results of this study show that 97 percent of cases healed on their own within two months, proving that most cases do not require surgery," said Ilaaf Darrat, an otolaryngologist at Henry Ford Hospital and co-author of the study.

More than half of patients seen in otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) clinics, regardless of their primary complaint, admit to using cotton swabs to clean their ears. But if the cotton swab is pushed too far in the ear canal, it can cause serious damage, including ruptured eardrum, also known as tympanic membrane perforations (TMP).

Severe TMP can cause facial paralysis and vertigo.

About Otitis Media
Middle ear infection, or otitis media, is a common type of infection that may or may not accompany the infections of nose and throat. It is the infection of any part of the middle ear.

"If a patient is experiencing symptoms such as hearing loss, drainage, dizziness or abnormality in their facial movements they should see a doctor immediately to assess the possible ear damage," added Darrat.

The study will be presented at the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting in Chicago.

Anatomy of Ear and Hearing
Ear converts sound waves into electrical impulses that are transmitted to the temporal lobe of the brain through the auditory nerve. It consists of outer, inner and middle sections.

Source-ANI