Top answers from doctors based on your search:
Can I go swimming with a perforated eardrum
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Dennis Diazanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 39 years experience
Be cautious: I think the safest thing would be to protect that middle ear from water exposure and this can easily be done with an ear plug.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. David Astrachananswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 38 years experience
Yes, but: It is a good idea to protect your ear from water with a silicone ear plug that molds to your outer ear. Best to not use plugs that fill the canal. If ... Read More
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. John Thaleranswered
Prosthodontics 42 years experience
No, unless..: Unless you have a perfect way to seal the ear canal, no -- very bad idea. If you saw MD for this you should be on drops and should have strict instruc... Read More
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 16-year-old male asked:

Dr. Daniel Saurbornanswered
Diagnostic Radiology 24 years experience
Probably yes.: You basically laid out all you need for a serious inner ear infection. 1) Lake water teeming with organisms. 2) Outer ear canal easily fills with wate... Read More
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Bernstein Joelanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 61 years experience
Possibly drainage: A perforated ear drum can be due to infection or trauma. Pills probably will not help. It is true that if a perforation exists, getting water in the... Read More
2.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Alexander Gorupanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 30 years experience
See ENT: Probably don't have to rush to hospital unless you can't wait to be evaluated by an otolaryngologist(ent) as an outpatient.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sparacinoanswered
Family Medicine 38 years experience
See below: See if it heals spontaneously, or surgically repair it.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Neil Giddingsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 40 years experience
Drainage: Acute perforation of the tympanic membrane from infection will always be accompanied by drainage. If the perforation has been present for a long time ... Read More
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. David Kyleanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Perferated Eardrums: Perforated eardrums is a common and most often fairly harmless complication of an ear infection. Usually it heals well without complication and witho... Read More
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:

Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 47 years experience
Drops help: Kids will generally perforate the ear drum with some forms of middle ear infection or occasionally trauma. The drops can get thru the hole directly in... Read More
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 66-year-old female asked:

A Verified Doctoranswered
Emergency Medicine 47 years experience
Something to ask: the practitioner who has diagnosed it and mentioned surgery. If it is not giving you any symptoms, these things often heal up without problems. But ... Read More
190 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. David Mannanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 31 years experience
Perforated drum: It isnt usually dangerous. A hole, depending on size and location can affect hearing. It can also allow infection to get into the middle ear, theref... Read More
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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