Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsBulging Eardrum CausesWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderDiagnosisBulging Eardrum TreatmentPreventionSummary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Bulging Eardrum Causes
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Diagnosis
Bulging Eardrum Treatment
Prevention
Summary
When the eardrum is inflamed, people may feel fullness, pressure, and pain in the ear. Treatment will depend on what’s causing the bulging eardrum but may include antibiotics and over-the-counter medications to relieve inflammation and pain.
This article discusses the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of a bulging eardrum.
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Symptoms that may occur along with a bulging eardrum include:
In children who have a bulging eardrum, they may be irritable, pull their ears, and be unable to sleep.
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A bulging eardrum is usually a symptom of a condition that affects the ear. Several health conditions can cause the eardrum to become inflamed and bulge.
Middle Ear Infections
A middle ear infection develops because bacteria or viruses in the nasal passages find their way into the ear and become trapped behind the eardrum, resulting in an infection. The buildup of fluids behind the eardrum and in the middle ear causes it to become inflamed and irritated.
When this happens, you may also have ear pain and plugged ears. Hearing loss can also occur.Acute otitis media is the first stage of the infection and presents with the typical symptoms of an ear infection.Otitis media with effusion, on the other hand, occurs after the infection has gone away, but there is still a buildup of mucus or fluid that no longer contains bacteria.
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Ear Trauma
The eardrum is a sensitive part of the body. It’s thin and pliable, so it can be easily damaged. Any foreign object in the ear can lead to injury of the eardrum, such as a cotton swab, finger, or even earbud headphones.
Other types of trauma that can lead to a bulging eardrum include:
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Bullous Myringitis
Bullous myringitis often occurs at the same time as a middle ear infection. With this type of infection, fluid can become trapped behind the eardrum and cause it to bulge.
The symptoms associated with a bulging eardrum are typically present because there is some type of infection or injury.
Contact your healthcare provider if:
Diagnosing a bulging eardrum is based on the condition that is causing it. Your healthcare provider will:
Can a Bulging Eardrum Lead to a Rupture?If the condition that is causing your eardrum to bulge persists, your eardrum may rupture. This is why it’s important to seek medical care right away if you have a bulging eardrum.
Can a Bulging Eardrum Lead to a Rupture?
If the condition that is causing your eardrum to bulge persists, your eardrum may rupture. This is why it’s important to seek medical care right away if you have a bulging eardrum.
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Ruptured Ear Drum Causes
Bullous myringitisis typically treated with antibiotics, but may also require the blisters to be lanced off of the eardrum.
Over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen, can help relieve inflammation and pain.
There are things you can do to help relieve pain while you recover, such as putting a warm compress on the affected ear or performing a few neck exercises. These exercises may help relieve any pressure within the ear.
Homeopathic Remedies for Ear Infections
While it may be hard to avoid certain infections that can cause a bulging eardrum, there are things you can do to help reduce the risk.
Middle Ear Infections and Bullous Myringitis
Sometimes a middle ear infection can be hard to prevent. There are, however, ways you can lower your risk of contracting an ear infection, including:
Some ear traumas are unavoidable, especially a head injury. Other types of ear trauma, however, can be prevented. Things you can do include:
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A bulging eardrum has many causes, from injury to ear infections. Symptoms may include inflammation, pain, and a feeling of fullness and pressure in the ear. Treatment will depend on what’s causing the bulging eardrum but may include antibiotics and over-the-counter medications.
Prolonged bulging of the eardrum can potentially lead to eardrum rupture or hearing loss. If you have a bulging eardrum, talk to your healthcare provider so they can identify the cause and help you manage your symptoms.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Earwood JS, Rogers TS, Rathjen NA.Ear Pain: Diagnosing Common and Uncommon Causes.Am Fam Physician.2018 Jan 1;97(1):20-27.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Middle-ear infection in adults.Schilder AG, Chonmaitree T, Cripps AW, Rosenfeld RM, Casselbrant ML, Haggard MP, Venekamp RP.Otitis media.Nat Rev Dis Primers.2016 Sep 8;2(1):16063. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2016.63Kids Health.Eardrum injuries.Kim CH, Shin JE.Hemorrhage within the tympanic membrane without perforation.J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018 Nov 6;47(1):66. doi:10.1186/s40463-018-0300-0Devaraja K.Myringitis: An update.J Otol.2019 Mar;14(1):26-29. doi:10.1016/j.joto.2018.11.003Penn Medicine.Ear infection (middle ear).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear.Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School.Middle ear infection (otitis media).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Earwood JS, Rogers TS, Rathjen NA.Ear Pain: Diagnosing Common and Uncommon Causes.Am Fam Physician.2018 Jan 1;97(1):20-27.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Middle-ear infection in adults.Schilder AG, Chonmaitree T, Cripps AW, Rosenfeld RM, Casselbrant ML, Haggard MP, Venekamp RP.Otitis media.Nat Rev Dis Primers.2016 Sep 8;2(1):16063. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2016.63Kids Health.Eardrum injuries.Kim CH, Shin JE.Hemorrhage within the tympanic membrane without perforation.J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018 Nov 6;47(1):66. doi:10.1186/s40463-018-0300-0Devaraja K.Myringitis: An update.J Otol.2019 Mar;14(1):26-29. doi:10.1016/j.joto.2018.11.003Penn Medicine.Ear infection (middle ear).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear.Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School.Middle ear infection (otitis media).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Earwood JS, Rogers TS, Rathjen NA.Ear Pain: Diagnosing Common and Uncommon Causes.Am Fam Physician.2018 Jan 1;97(1):20-27.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Middle-ear infection in adults.Schilder AG, Chonmaitree T, Cripps AW, Rosenfeld RM, Casselbrant ML, Haggard MP, Venekamp RP.Otitis media.Nat Rev Dis Primers.2016 Sep 8;2(1):16063. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2016.63Kids Health.Eardrum injuries.Kim CH, Shin JE.Hemorrhage within the tympanic membrane without perforation.J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018 Nov 6;47(1):66. doi:10.1186/s40463-018-0300-0Devaraja K.Myringitis: An update.J Otol.2019 Mar;14(1):26-29. doi:10.1016/j.joto.2018.11.003Penn Medicine.Ear infection (middle ear).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear.Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School.Middle ear infection (otitis media).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.
Earwood JS, Rogers TS, Rathjen NA.Ear Pain: Diagnosing Common and Uncommon Causes.Am Fam Physician.2018 Jan 1;97(1):20-27.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Middle-ear infection in adults.
Schilder AG, Chonmaitree T, Cripps AW, Rosenfeld RM, Casselbrant ML, Haggard MP, Venekamp RP.Otitis media.Nat Rev Dis Primers.2016 Sep 8;2(1):16063. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2016.63
Kids Health.Eardrum injuries.
Kim CH, Shin JE.Hemorrhage within the tympanic membrane without perforation.J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018 Nov 6;47(1):66. doi:10.1186/s40463-018-0300-0
Devaraja K.Myringitis: An update.J Otol.2019 Mar;14(1):26-29. doi:10.1016/j.joto.2018.11.003
Penn Medicine.Ear infection (middle ear).
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear.
Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School.Middle ear infection (otitis media).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.
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