Ear emergencies include objects in the ear canal, ruptured eardrums, sudden hearing loss, and severe infections.
Children often put objects into their ears. These objects can be hard to remove. The ear canal is a tube of solid bone that is lined with thin, sensitive skin. Any object pressing against the skin can be very painful. In many cases, a health care provider will need to use special instruments to examine the ear and safely remove the object.
Pain, hearing loss, dizziness, ringing in the ear, and ruptured eardrums can be caused by:
Symptoms include:
Depending on the type of ear emergency, follow the steps below.
OBJECT IN THE EAR
Calm and reassure the person.
INSECT IN THE EAR
DO NOT let the person put a finger in the ear. This may make the insect sting.
RUPTURED EARDRUM
The person will have severe pain.
CUTS ON THE OUTER EAR
Apply direct pressure until the bleeding stops.
DRAINAGE FROM INSIDE THE EAR
Cover the outside of the ear with a sterile dressing shaped to the contour of the ear, and tape it loosely in place.
If someone has an ear emergency, remember the following:
Some symptoms may mean you have had serious injury to your ear. See a provider if you have:
Follow these steps to prevent ear emergencies:
If you tend to feel pain and pressure in your ears when flying:
Goodloe JM, Skoulek J. Foreign bodies. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 51.
Matlock AG, Pfaff JA. Otolaryngology. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 58.
BACK TO TOPReview Date: 5/30/2022
Reviewed By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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06/01/2025
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