What do infected eardrums look like?

A healthy eardrum looks pinkish-gray. An infection of the middle ear, or an ear with otitis media, looks red, bulging, and there may be clear, yellow, or even greenish hued drainage.

Can the tympanic membrane get infected?

A ruptured eardrum (tympanic membrane perforation) is a hole or tear in the thin tissue that separates your ear canal from your middle ear (eardrum). A ruptured eardrum can result in hearing loss. It can also make your middle ear vulnerable to infections.

What color is an infected eardrum?

A normal, healthy eardrum has a pinkish-gray color as shown here. The healthy eardrum is clear, while an infected eardrum is bulging (swollen) and reddened.

Can a doctor see an inner ear infection?

The only way to know if you have an inner ear infection or another ear problem is to see a doctor. If you experience symptoms of an ear infection such as ear pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, spinning sensation, fullness in the ear, ringing in the ear, problems with balance or walking, or hearing loss, see a doctor.

What are the symptoms of an inner ear infection in adults?

Symptoms of Inner Ear Infection

• Vertigo, a sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving around even when everything is still.
• Having trouble balancing or walking normally.
• Dizziness.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Problems with your hearing.
• Feeling like the ear is full or blocked.
• Tinnitus or ringing in your ears.

What happens if an inner ear infection goes untreated?

Untreated chronic ear infections can also cause tears in the eardrum. These tears will typically heal within a few days, though in more extreme cases, surgical repair might be required. The other primary risk of leaving an ear infection untreated is that the infection could spread beyond the ear.

How long does the tympanic membrane take to heal?

A ruptured (perforated) eardrum usually heals on its own within weeks. In some cases, healing takes months. Until your doctor tells you that your ear is healed, protect it by: Keeping your ear dry.

What causes blood behind the eardrum?

Bleeding often occurs with an infection of the middle ear — the part of the ear behind the eardrum. A middle ear infection can cause the eardrum to rupture and bleed. Tubes inserted into the ear allow blood and other fluid to drain, and this drainage may increase with the presence of an infection.

What does a dull tympanic membrane mean?

A dull tympanic membrane (dull ear drum) occurs when something is wrong with the middle ear, such as an infection, inconsistent pressure in the ear,… See full answer below.

What is the tympanic membrane also called?

The tympanic membrane is also called the eardrum. It separates the outer ear from the middle ear. When sound waves reach the tympanic membrane they cause it to vibrate.

What is the plural of tympanic membrane?

The plural form of tympanic membrane is tympanic membranes.