Definition

• Injuries to the outer ear, ear canal or eardrum

Health Information

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

Care Advice

1. 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.
2. Cleansing:
   • Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes.
3. 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.
4. Pain Medicine:
   • To help with the pain, give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Use as needed.
5. What to Expect:
   • Minor ear wounds heal quickly.
   • Most often, cuts and scrapes heal in 2 or 3 days.

Call Your Doctor If

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

Author: Barton Schmitt MD, FAAP

Copyright 2000-2020 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. The information contained in this handout should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. Listing of any resources does not imply an endorsement.

 #AAP