How to tell difference between ear infection and ruptured eardrum?

Normally a doctor can diagnose a bacterial ear infection by looking at the eardrum. It will be bulging and have pus behind it. If the eardrum ruptures, the eardrum can't be seen because it's covered with pus. So the presence of the discharge makes the diagnosis.



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A ruptured eardrum can result in hearing loss. It can also make the middle ear vulnerable to infections. A ruptured eardrum usually heals within a few weeks without treatment. But sometimes it requires a patch or surgical repair to heal.

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