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Suggest Treatment For Pinhole Eardrum Perforations
Question: ENT specialist told me i have pinhole in eardrum. gave me drops to take for 5 days. been a month and it was feeling better but recently when i yawn or hiccup my ear pops much more than it should and side of face hurts (jaw, ear, head). See someone immediately?
Brief Answer:
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. Pinhole eardrum perforations suggest an Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD). I am assuming that there was no acute infection or trauma.
2. Get a repeat ear examination to check whether the perforation has healed or not.
3. Tests for nasal allergy, sinusitis and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction should be done. The ear popping is a good sign.
4. The pain in the face may be due to infection, sinusitis or referred pains.
5. treatment should include antibiotics, anti-allergic mucolytics, anti-inflammatory agents and steam inhalation besides the ear drops.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. Pinhole eardrum perforations suggest an Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD). I am assuming that there was no acute infection or trauma.
2. Get a repeat ear examination to check whether the perforation has healed or not.
3. Tests for nasal allergy, sinusitis and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction should be done. The ear popping is a good sign.
4. The pain in the face may be due to infection, sinusitis or referred pains.
5. treatment should include antibiotics, anti-allergic mucolytics, anti-inflammatory agents and steam inhalation besides the ear drops.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The pain associated with the ear popping is a good sign? I stopped the ear drops after 5 days as instructed but still have some left, I should resume those and keep taking NSAID's? I have a follow up appointment scheduled for next week
Brief Answer:
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. The ear popping while yawning, swallowing and while having a hiccup is a good sign. Ear pain is not.
2. Since it has been a month, I recommend that you see the specialist earlier. Fungal infection should be ruled out as with a small perforation, the ear tends to remain wet with (normal or infected) secretions from the middle ear.
3. You may have the painkiller after meals, however the ear drops are not of much use if the perforation has healed.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. The ear popping while yawning, swallowing and while having a hiccup is a good sign. Ear pain is not.
2. Since it has been a month, I recommend that you see the specialist earlier. Fungal infection should be ruled out as with a small perforation, the ear tends to remain wet with (normal or infected) secretions from the middle ear.
3. You may have the painkiller after meals, however the ear drops are not of much use if the perforation has healed.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Ok my follow up is wednesday the 2nd but i will see if i can get in earlier. It is not so much ear pain as it is discomfort when i yawn and it pops. There is a weird sensation around my ear/jaw/side of head however and it feels like it is irritated or something like that.
Brief Answer:
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. If it is discomfort, you need not reschedule your appointment.
2. These are signs that there is inflammation (not necessarily an infection) in that area.
3. Further investigation depends upon whether the pin hole perforation has healed or not.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. If it is discomfort, you need not reschedule your appointment.
2. These are signs that there is inflammation (not necessarily an infection) in that area.
3. Further investigation depends upon whether the pin hole perforation has healed or not.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
should i be concerned about the tingling sensation around the side/back of my head on that side? or is that a result of inflammation in the ear tube or ETD as you suggested? this is something that just started over the past few days, before that I felt like everything had healed up.
Brief Answer:
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. No, the tingling sensations are not a cause for concern.
2. It is most likely as a result of ETD.
3. Wait for the review appointment to confirm the status of the eardrum perforation.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. No, the tingling sensations are not a cause for concern.
2. It is most likely as a result of ETD.
3. Wait for the review appointment to confirm the status of the eardrum perforation.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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