What Causes Bleeding In Ear And Excessive Cough?

Posted on Fri, 27 Mar 2015

Question: YOUR SIGN UP PAGE SAYS MAY I ANSWER YOUR HEALTH QUESTION RIGHT NOW. OVER AN HOUR AGO I SUBMITTED MY QUESTION, I HAVE HEARD NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING AS OF NOW, EXCEPT YOUR QUESTION HAS BEEN REFERRED TO A DOCTOR. MY QUESTION WAS, BLOOD IS SEEPING FROM MY RIGHT EAR, I HAVE A COLD, HAVE BEEN COUGHING HARD. COULD THE COLD AND COUGHING CAUSE THE PROBLEM? SHOULD I GO TO THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM NOW?????

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty (17 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Consult your doctor immediately...

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for posting the query

The bleeding from the ear during an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) is due to rupture of the ear drum.

During URTI the nose gets congested due to which the Eustachian tube (the tube connecting nose and the ear) gets blocked. The blocked tube traps the lubricating fluid in the middle ear, thus causing pressure over the ear drum. If the tube doesn't open in due course, the ear drum ruptures because for the increased pressure, thus causing bleeding and watery discharge. This is known as suppurative otitis media.

Cough and sneeze doesn't cause rupture of the ear drum.

You need to consult your doctor immediately as the ear has to be cleaned and the antibiotic drops instilled into the ear.

Hope I have answered your query; I'll be available for the follow up queries.

Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

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. Shanthi.E