Ear Injury

When To Call

Go to ER Now

• Bleeding that won't stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure
• Large deep cut that will need many stitches

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

• Skin is split open or gaping and may need stitches
• Upper part of the ear is very swollen
• Pointed object was put into the ear canal (such as a pencil, stick, or wire)
• Clear fluid is draining from the ear canal
• Skin is cut and No past tetanus shots. Note: tetanus is the "T" in DTaP, TdaP, or Td vaccines.
• Severe pain and not better 2 hours after taking pain medicine
• Age less than 1 year old
• Outer ear injury looks infected (spreading redness)
• You think your child has a serious injury
• You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• Few drops of blood in the ear canal. Caused by a minor injury, cotton swab or ear exam.
• Injury causes an earache or crying lasts more than 30 minutes
• Hearing is less on injured side
• Dirty cut or hard to clean and no tetanus shot in more than 5 years
• Clean cut and no tetanus shot in more than 10 years
• You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

• Minor ear injury
• Pierced ear with minor injury

Care Advice

Bleeding - How to Stop:

• For any bleeding, put direct pressure on the wound.
• Use a gauze pad or clean cloth.
• Press for 10 minutes or until the bleeding has stopped.

Clean the Wound:

• Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes.

Antibiotic Ointment:

• For cuts and scrapes, use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed.
• Put it on the cut 3 times a day.
• Do this for 3 days.
• Cover large scrapes with a bandage. Change daily.

Pain Medicine:

• To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
• Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
• Use as needed.

What to Expect:

• Minor ear wounds heal quickly.
• Most often, cuts and scrapes heal in 2 or 3 days.

Preventing Ear Injuries:

• Careful adult supervision of young children.
• Never let young children put cotton swabs in their ears.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Pain gets severe
• You think your child needs to be seen
• Your child becomes worse

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