Ear Injury

Definition

Injuries to the outer ear, ear canal or eardrum

Call or Return If

Pain becomes severe
Wound looks infected
You think your child needs to be seen
Your child becomes worse

About This Topic

Types of Ear Injuries

Bruises and scratches of outer ear
Blood clot of outer ear
Ear canal bleeding due to scratch of ear canal. This can be caused by cotton swab, fingernail, or ear exam.
Punctured eardrum due to long-pointed objects. Examples are cotton swabs, pencils, sticks, straws, or wires.
Cotton swabs cause over 10,000 ear injuries each year in the US. Over 2,000 are punctured eardrums.

Symptoms

The main symptom is pain.

Prevention

Careful adult supervision of young children
Never let young children put Q-tips in their ears
Education of older children about high risk behaviors

After Care Advice

Bleeding:

For any bleeding, put direct pressure on the wound.
Use a gauze pad or clean cloth.
Press for 10 minutes or until the bleeding has stopped.

Cleansing:

Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes.

Antibiotic Ointment:

For cuts and scrapes, use an antibiotic ointment such as Polysporin. No prescription is needed.
Put it on the cut 3 times a day.
Do this for 3 days.
Cover large scrapes with a Band-Aid. Change daily.

Pain Medicine:

To help with the pain, give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Use as needed.

What to Expect:

Minor ear wounds heal quickly.
Most often, cuts and scrapes heal in 2 or 3 days.

Author: Barton Schmitt MD, FAAP
Copyright 2000-2021 Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC
Disclaimer: This health information is for educational purposes only. You the reader assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.
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