Perforated eardrum

Symptoms of a perforated eardrum usually start suddenly after an: ear infection injury (such as getting hit on your ear) loud noise sudden change in air pressure (such as flying on a plane) Most of the time symptoms affect 1 ear and include: hearing loss a ringing or buzzing sound in your ear ( tinnitus ) earache or ear pain itching in your ear clear fluid, blood or pus leaking from your ear feeling dizzy a high temperature

A perforated eardrum usually gets better on its own within 2 months and your hearing returns to normal. You may need antibiotics if you have an ear infection, or to stop you getting an ear infection while your eardrum heals. Sometimes, surgery to repair the eardrum (myringoplasty) may be needed if the eardrum is not healing by itself. Important See a GP if your symptoms have not started to improve after a few weeks.

There are some things you can do to help heal a perforated eardrum and ease symptoms. Do take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease any pain put a large piece of cotton wool covered in petroleum jelly in your outer ear when you wash your hair to stop water getting in Don’t do not go swimming or get your ear wet until your eardrum heals do not put anything inside your ear, such as cotton buds or eardrops (unless a doctor recommends them) try not to blow your nose too hard because this can damage your eardrum as it heals Information: Flying with a perforated eardrum It's safe to fly if you have a perforated eardrum. But if you've had surgery to repair a perforated eardrum (myringoplasty), do not fly until you're told it's safe to.