Fluid from the ear is known as Ear Discharge (also known as Otorrhea). Earwax comes out of your ears most of the time, and your body creates this oil on its own. Earwax’s primary function is to keep dust, bacteria, and other foreign matter from entering your ear canal.
If your eardrum is burst, blood or other fluids may leak out of your ear, but this is rare. Medical treatment is needed if you notice this fluid coming from your ear. Ear discharge is one of the common symptoms of many ears, nose, and throat disorders; let’s discuss it in detail.
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Causes
A variety of factors can cause ear discharge. Earwax is a common, natural discharge from the ear canal, and it’s very typical to feel this way. Infection or damage can also lead to another kind of discharge.
Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Otitis media, or an infection in the middle ear, is a common cause of ear discharge. When viruses or bacteria penetrate the middle ear, they cause otitis media. The middle ear is behind the eardrum. Ossicles, the bones that make up the skeleton, are found within, essential for hearing. Fluid can build up behind the eardrum if you have a middle-ear infection. The eardrum can be perforated if excessive fluid is present, resulting in ear discharge.
Trauma
The fluid might leak out of the ear canal when the ear canal is injured. If you insert the cotton swab too profoundly, you risk inflicting such damage. Even when flying or submerging, your ear can be damaged by increased pressure. Rupture or tear of the eardrum can also occur in these circumstances.
Acoustic trauma is an injury to the ear caused by exposure to thunderous noise, and your eardrum can also be ruptured by acoustic trauma. However, these cases aren’t as common as the other ones stated.
Swimmer’s Ear
An infection of the outer ear canal by bacteria or fungus causes a swimmer’s ear or Otitis Externa. It’s more likely to happen if you spend a lot of time in or around the water. The skin lining the ear canal might get damaged if it becomes overly wet. Allows pathogens to enter and cause infection. On the other hand, Swimmer’s ear isn’t just for swimmers. It can occur if the skin of the ear canal is damaged. As a result of eczema, you may experience this.
Less Common Causes
An uncommon cause of ear discharge is malignant otitis externa, and this infection damages the cartilage and bones at the base of the skull due to the Swimmer’s ear complications.
Besides a skull fracture or mastoiditis, an inflammation of the mastoid bone behind your ear, there are a few more uncommon causes.
Treatment
Treatment of your ear discharge relies on its cause, and you may not need to consult a doctor in some circumstances. Symptoms of an ear infection are typically gone within a week or two of the infection starts.
- Any discomfort or pain may necessitate the use of pain medicines.
- For children under six months or who have a temperature of more than 102.2°F, the doctor may prescribe antibiotic ear drops to treat the infection.
- Without treatment, most cases of ear damage can cure themselves. A paper patch may be applied to a tear in your eardrum if it doesn’t mend spontaneously. As you wait for your eardrum to recover, this patch helps to keep the opening closed.
- Surgical repair of your ear using a patch of your skin is an option if a patch fails.
- A doctor should treat the Swimmer’s ear to prevent the infection from spreading. Your doctor will usually prescribe you antibiotic ear drops to take for a few days, and oral antibiotics may be required in more complex situations.
Preventive Measures
- Stay away from ill people to avoid getting an ear infection.
- As breast milk has antibodies from the mother, nursing may help prevent ear infections.
- Those who bottle-feed their children recommend that they be beheld upright rather than lying on their backs.
- Avoid rupturing your eardrum by not placing foreign things in your ears.
- Bring earplugs or muffs if you know you’ll be in an area with extreme noise.
- To avoid Swimmer’s ears, make sure to wipe your ears thoroughly after swimming.
- Moving your head to one side and the other can help remove any remaining water. Swimmers’ ears can be controlled and alleviated using over-the-counter medicinal ear drops.
If the discharge from the ear is white, yellow, or bloody, or if it has lasted more than five days, you must make an appointment with a doctor. Ear discharge can accompany other symptoms like fever, for example, and any associated symptoms should be reported to your doctor as well.
Your ear is swollen or red, or you’ve lost some of your hearing, then you should seek immediate medical attention. Another reason to consult a specialist is to have an ear injury-causing discharge. Find an ENT in Lahore with Marham. It helps you get the best specialist in your region with much ease.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1- What is the treatment option for ear discharge?
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if you have ear fluid. Decongestants and Antihistamines can be used together to ease congestion. The doctor can insert a tube into the middle ear so that fluids can drain normally.
2- What is the color of ear discharge resulting from infection?
Ear wax is the most prevalent cause of discharge from the ears. A clear or milky white liquid may also be present, and there’s a chance it’s a combination of these. The ear wax color ranges from yellow to orange-brown, and it’s not usually a cause for concern.
3- What is the duration of an ear infection?
The average length depends on the severity and kind of infection. Mostly middle ear infections clear up on their own within 2 to 3 days, even when no specific therapy is used. A middle ear infection might persist for up to six weeks after antibiotic treatment in some situations.