What causes eardrum perforation?
The causes of a perforated eardrum are usually from trauma or infection. A perforated eardrum from trauma can occur: • If the ear is struck directly • With a skull fracture • After a sudden explosion • If an object (such as a bobby pin, Q-tip, or stick) is pushed too far into the ear canal • As a result of acid or hot slag (from welding) entering the ear canal Middle ear infections may cause pain, hearing loss, and spontaneous rupture (tear) of the eardrum, resulting in a perforation. In this circumstance, there maybe infected or bloody drainage from the ear. In medical terms, this is called otitis media with perforation. Symptoms of acute otitis media include a sense of fullness in the ear, diminished hearing, pain, and fever. On rare occasions a small hole may remain in the eardrum after a previously placed pressure-equalizing (PE) tube falls out or is removed by the physician. Most eardrum perforations heal on their own within weeks of rupture, although some may take several months
