The anatomy of the ear is divided into the outer, middle, and inner ear. The outer ear is composed of the pinna or auricle, which is the visible outside part of the ear. The external auditory canal connects the outer ear to the middle ear. The eardrum separates the outer ear from the middle ear. The middle ear, known as the tympanic cavity, is composed of three connected bones called ossicles and a canal to the back of the nose known as the Eustachian tube. The ossicles transmit sound waves to the inner ear.
The Eustachian tube, which is lined with mucus, regulates the pressure in the middle ear so that sound can be properly transmitted. The inner ear has three distinct parts. Two of the three parts, the vestibule, and the semicircular canals help with balance. The remaining part of the inner ear is the cochlea, which contains nerve endings that help with hearing.
Bleeding from the outer ear usually occurs due to a superficial skin wound, such as a cut or injury. Bleeding from deeper in the ear can be caused by other conditions. In this case, there will probably be no other symptoms other than minor pain at the site of the injury. A skin injury may also occur if a person uses a Q-tip or tries to clean out earwax aggressively.
An irritated or infected ear piercing may also cause bleeding. An object in the ear is often more noticeable to an adult than a child. It is not uncommon for small children to stick candy, toys, beads, and other small objects in their ears and not complain. Any object in the ear, including small insects, may cause bleeding, infection or discomfort. Typically, ear pain will resolve when the object is no longer in the ear.
More severe injuries or traumas to the head may cause bleeding from the ears. These types of injuries are often due to an accident, a fall, or a sports injury. In cases when bleeding from the ears accompanies a head injury, the person may have a concussion.
Bleeding from the ears after a head injury may be the result of a skull fracture , severe trauma, or other serious injury, so a person will need immediate medical attention. These infections can occur in any part of the ear. Infections of the middle and outer ear can cause bleeding from the ear in addition to the following symptoms:. The eardrum is the thin membrane separating the middle ear from the outer ear.
It can be torn or ruptured. People may tear or rupture their eardrum without realizing they have done so, but it may also cause pain. A damaged or burst eardrum can be irreversibly damaged, so that its function is disturbed, no longer vibrates properly or no longer grows together, leaving holes in the eardrum.
A hole in the eardrum can let water get in ear and lead to more serious otitis media. Wounds in the ear canal area can become infected, which in the worst case can lead to severe chronic ear canal inflammation. Medical News. What does it mean if your ear is bleeding? Last update on Jun, 24, Ear bleeding with and without pain. Why is your ear bleeding?
A small sore is one of the most common causes of ear bleeding, most commonly caused by cleaning the ears with objects such as cotton swabs. The perforation of the eardrum or severe head injuries caused by blunt force from impact, blow or extreme pressure, such as a bang or an explosion, are less common. Water pressure or a violent side impact with the head on a water surface can also lead to ear bleeding. Ear bleeding after cleaning with cotton bud If a cotton bud penetrates too deeply into the ear while cleaning the ears, it can lead to a small injury with blood.
This can happen because frequent use of cotton buds puts a lot of strain on the thin skin deep in the ear canal. Small cracks in the skin form quickly, which can bleed profusely due to the good blood circulation in the ears and only heal very slowly, as the thin skin regenerates very slowly due to the non-existent layer of tissue under the skin.
It is therefore important to remove the wax carefully so that the ear skin is not damaged. With purulent otitis media , blood often collects in the ear after a ventilation tube operation. It is a surgically guided incision that the doctor makes on the eardrum to drain pus in the middle ear through the ear canal. Wound secretions and blood then mix with one another. In the case of otitis media, this is called bloody discharge. If the eardrum has burst, little or no blood flows out of the ear.
The eardrum is well protected, deep at the end of the ear canal. Although it is a thin membrane, it is kept stable by internal tissue fibers and contains only a few blood vessels.
This means that there is little bleeding in the event of an eardrum injury. Common accompanying symptoms of bleeding from the ear If you're experiencing bleeding from your ear, you also experience: Pain Fever Hearing loss Ringing in the ear Sensation of spinning Pus draining from the ear Scaly skin A shiny white bump Circular or spidery red marks.
What causes ear bleeding? Injury Injuries can easily result in bleeding. Ear canal injury: Bleeding from the ear can come from an injury to the skin of the ear canal. Injuries often occur when an object is inserted into the ear, such as a cotton swab or an instrument to remove earwax. Eardrum injury : A tear in the eardrum can lead to bleeding from the ear. This injury can occur due to increased pressure behind the eardrum with head trauma or a middle ear infection.
A foreign object inserted into the ear canal can also rupture the eardrum. Head trauma : Bleeding from the ear can occur due to head trauma, even without perforation of the tympanic membrane, if there is a skull fracture with disruption of the ear canal. Infectious causes Ear infections can result in bleeding. Middle ear infection: Usually an infection of the middle ear will not cause discharge unless there is a perforation of the eardrum.
However, if ear tubes are in place, bloody discharge from an infection can drain out from behind the eardrum. A middle ear infection can also cause blisters pustules to form on the eardrum. Rupture of these blisters causes a bloody discharge. Ear canal infection: A chronic bacterial infection of the ear canal can lead to the development of abnormal tissue that easily bleeds. Other causes Other causes of bleeding from the ear include the following.
Polyp: Chronic inflammation in the ear can cause a polyp, a type of benign skin growth that often bleeds. Abnormal blood vessels: Ear bleeding can occur due to abnormal superficial blood vessels associated with a genetic disorder. Cancer: Bleeding from the ear could originate from skin cancer on the external ear or in the ear canal if it develops bleeding ulcers.
A white bump or scaly patch may be visible. Foreign body in external ear An ear foreign body is anything that gets stuck in the ear canal other than earwax. Rarity: Rare Top Symptoms: ear canal pain, constant ear pain, ringing in the ears, vertigo extreme dizziness , hearing loss Symptoms that always occur with burst ear drum: ear canal pain, recent ear injury, constant ear pain Urgency: Primary care doctor Traumatic brain injury Traumatic brain injury TBI happens when a bump, blow, jolt, or other head injury causes damage to the brain.
Rarity: Common Top Symptoms: new headache, irritability, clear runny nose, vision changes, general numbness Symptoms that always occur with traumatic brain injury: head injury Urgency: Emergency medical service. When to seek treatment for blood in the ear When it is an emergency Seek immediate treatment if: Your ear bleeding starts after head trauma You have a fever more than degrees Fahrenheit: Along with chronic drainage and bleeding from the ear You have sudden-onset hearing loss or a spinning sensation When to see a doctor Even if emergency care isn't necessary, you should see a physician fo ear bleeding unless there is an obvious source, such as a scratch visible in the ear canal.
Make an appointment with your physician if you or your child have: A history of chronic ear infections Hearing loss or a spinning sensation Severe and persistent pain [5] A bump or scaly area in the ear: Regardless if it has stayed the same or increased in size over time. Bleeding that persists several days after ear tube placement Medical treatments Your physician may prescribe one or more of the following bleeding from the ear treatments, depending on the cause of the bleeding.
Antibiotic drops for an infection Laser therapy for abnormal blood vessels Referral for surgical management of cancer Referral for new or replacement ear tubes At-home treatments Many causes of ear bleeding will eventually resolve on their own.
Keep the ear dry and clean: Do not go swimming until the bleeding has resolved and dry your ears thoroughly after you bathe. Avoid blowing the nose forcefully: Blowing your nose causes increased pressure behind the ears. Avoid placing any objects in the ear: Especially cotton swabs or Q-tips, which can cause or exacerbate injuries to the eardrum and ear canal.
FAQs about bleeding from the ear What causes bleeding from the ear after a head injury? Can bleeding from the ear be caused by an infection? What kinds of injuries cause bleeding from the ear? Can skin abnormalities cause bleeding from the ear? Can ear tubes cause bleeding from the ear? Questions your doctor may ask about bleeding from the ear Have someone look in your ear with a flashlight.
What is seen? Do you hear a ringing or whistling sound no one else hears? Is there anything coming from your ear s? Have you noticed a change in your hearing? Share your story. Submit story. Request sent successfully. An error occurred, please try again later. He currently practices as a hospitalist at Newton Wellesley Hospital.
In , Dr. Rothschild received his MD at the Medical College of Wisconsin and trained in internal medicine followed by a fellowship in critical care medicine. He also received an MP Read full bio. Was this article helpful? Read this next. Slide 1 of 2. Understanding Ear Canal Pain. An infection of your ear canal is called otitis externa or swimmer's ear. Learn about the symptoms of ear canal pain and why the inside of your ear hurts.
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