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Infectious myringitis
Bullous myringitis
Infectious myringitis is an infection that causes painful blisters on the eardrum (tympanum).
Causes
Infectious myringitis is caused by the same viruses or bacteria that cause middle ear infections. The most common of these is mycoplasma. It is often found along with the common cold or other similar infections.
Common cold
The common cold most often causes a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. You may also have a sore throat, cough, headache, or other symptoms....
The condition is most often seen in children, but it may also occur in adults.
Symptoms
The main symptom is pain that lasts for 24 to 48 hours. Other symptoms include:
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Draining from the ear
Draining from the ear
Ear discharge is drainage of blood, ear wax, pus, or fluid from the ear.
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Hearing loss
in the painful ear
Hearing loss
Hearing loss is being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears.
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Rarely, the hearing loss will continue after the infection has cleared.
Treatment
Infectious myringitis is usually treated with antibiotics. These may be given by mouth or as drops in the ear. If the pain is severe, small cuts may be made in the blisters so they can drain. Pain-killing drugs may be prescribed, as well.
References
Brant JA, Ruckenstein MJ. Infections of the external ear. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund V, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery . 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 137.
Haddad J, Keesecker S. External otitis (otitis externa). In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 639.
Review Date: 5/25/2016
Reviewed By: Sumana Jothi, MD, specialist in laryngology, Assistant Clinical Professor, UCSF Otolaryngology, NCHCS VA, SFVA, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
