Ear Discharge

Ear discharge (otorrhea) is drainage from the ear. This may be watery, bloody, or thick and whitish, like pus. Ear discharge can be persistent or intermittent, and many sufferers find it socially embarrassing. However, with the proper treatment, otorrhea is easily cleared up.

Boots Hearingcare looks at some of the finer points surrounding ear discharge and how to get rid of it…

What is ear discharge?
Otorrhea symptoms
Causes of ear discharge
Treatment of ear discharge
FAQs

Ear discharge affects both children and adults. It’s crucial to remember that different types of ear discharge often indicate different causes. Ultimately, it’s worth getting clued up on them all to know what to look out for and what you might encounter while suffering from otorrhea.
The most common types of ear discharge include:

• Wax
• Pus
• Cloudy fluid
• Blood
• Water
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
• Cholesteatoma

A lot of the time, ear discharge signals infection or damage to the ear itself. If your ear discharge has come on following a head injury, you should seek emergency medical attention right away.

Along with drainage from the ear, people with otorrhea tend to experience a few accompanying symptoms, depending on the underlying cause. These include:

• Ear pain or discomfort
• Fullness or pressure in the affected ear
• Partial hearing loss in the affected ear
• Dizziness or feeling unsteady on foot
• High temperature or fever

If you notice any of the above signs, as well as leakage, please see a medical professional to determine the root cause of your ear discharge.

In most cases, ear discharge is simply earwax making its way out of your body. This is natural and nothing to worry about. However, infection or trauma to the ears can also produce discharge.
Overall, the most common causes of ear discharge are:

• Excess earwax
• Ear infection
• Swimmer’s ear
• Perforated eardrum
• Cholesteatoma
• Mastoiditis
• External trauma, e.g. direct injury to the head or ear

You’re more likely to develop ear discharge if you swim regularly, are prone to ear infections, have recently had a cold or the flu, or are diabetic. Feel at risk of ear discharge? Speak to your GP about preventative treatments.

Treatment of your ear discharge will depend on its cause. You may even find that your condition won’t need medical treatment at all.
Sometimes, however, more serious instances of otorrhea require a stronger course of action, such as:

• Antibiotics or steroids
• Eardrops or tablets to treat infection
• A warm compress (applying to the affected ear can provide much-needed pain relief)
• Onward referral to a specialist, who will determine the need for further tests and/or treatment

Please refrain from trying to clean out the discharge yourself using cotton buds or anything similar, and bear in mind that surgery may be an option if the ear discharge is found to stem from a particularly nasty problem with your eardrum.

Your hearing health is important, so give it the quality care it deserves. Visit a doctor or qualified audiologist if you have concerns about ear discharge.

Are you experiencing hearing problems related to otorrhea? Get checked out with the experts at Boots Hearingcare…