A pus-filled ear otoscopy reveals a ruptured eardrum, which may be associated with acute suppurative otitis media, chronic suppurative otitis media (active stage), and middle ear cholesteatoma. Some tympanic membrane perforations caused by acute suppurative otitis media have the possibility of repairing on their own.
1. Acute suppurative otitis media: after trauma to the eustachian tube or tympanic membrane, bacterial infection leads to the onset of the disease, and the accumulation of pus in the middle ear cavity causes perforation of the eardrum, if the treatment is timely and appropriate, and the drainage of secretion is smooth, the perforation of the tympanic membrane can be healed on its own after the inflammation subsides, and most of the hearing can be restored to normal. If the treatment is not proper or the condition is serious, tympanic membrane perforation may remain.
2. Chronic suppurative otitis media (active stage): mostly caused by improper treatment of acute suppurative otitis media or serious prolongation of the disease. The eardrum cannot heal itself in such cases. After standardized anti-infective treatment and control of acute inflammation, tympanoplasty should be performed to repair the perforation of the tympanic membrane.
3. Middle ear cholesteatoma: Typical otoscopic cholesteatoma is a marginal perforation of the tympanic membrane above the flaccid or tense portion of the tympanic membrane, and the tympanic membrane cannot heal by itself. Surgery is needed to remove the lesion and repair the tympanic membrane perforation.
When the ear pus otoscopic observation of the tympanic membrane broken, need to actively seek medical attention, systematic examination, a clear diagnosis and degree of illness, follow the doctor’s instructions standardized treatment, do not recommend blindly waiting for their own repair.