Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

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Causes of Perforated eardrum

The most common cause of perforation is otitis media. In this condition, the pressure of pus and the inflammation of the eardrum may destroy a small area of drum tissue and create a hole through which the pus can drain to the outside.

The drum may also become perforated as a result of direct or indirect injury, such as from an explosion, a fracture of the base of the skull, a slap on the ear or a poke from an object. Sometimes perforation may result from sudden changes in the external air pressure (barotrauma), or from high water pressure during diving.