What is ear discharge or otorrhea?

Drainage from your ear is called otorrhea. Otorrhea is also called "watery ears" or "runny ears." The most frequent cause of otorrhea is an ear infection that ruptures the eardrum. The middle ear fluid leaks into the ear canal when there is a hole in the eardrum. However, otorrhea can also be caused by other diseases, such as swimmer's ear, an object caught in your ear, or, less frequently, head trauma.

Who is affected by otorrhea?

Otorrhea is most prevalent in children but also occurs in adults. In children, otorrhea is commonly linked with ear infections. Otorrhea in adults is usually caused by trauma or injury.

It is seen in up to 17% of patients. If your child has tubes, you may be instructed to place antibiotic drops to prevent drainage. If the drainage fails to resolve with a course of antibiotic drops, your child's doctor will typically have them return to evaluate further.

Kids or adults who have otorrhea from otitis externa or swimmer's ear can prevent otorrhea by wearing specialized ear plugs in the water. You could also coat a cotton ball with petroleum jelly and insert it into your ear canal.

What are the types of otorrhea?

There are five different kinds of otorrhea:

• Bloody (blood-containing).
• Mucus-containing (mucinoid).
• Transparent (watery and thin).
• Purulent (pus-containing).
• Serous (contains serum, a blood fluid high in protein).

What are the symptoms of otorrhea?

The most common symptom of otorrhea is drainage from your ear. The drainage can be odorless or smelly. It is thin or thick in consistency and clear, yellowish or green in color.

• Ear Pain
• Itching
• Ringing in your ear (tinnitus)

Some individuals develop more severe symptoms, such as:

• Fever
• Redness (erythema) of the skin around your ear.
• Loss of Hearing
• Cranial nerve impairment, i.e., difficulty in swallowing, speaking or seeing.
• Vertigo

These people might also have experienced recent brain trauma.

People with diabetes or weakened immune systems are more susceptible to complications. If you have any of the mentioned symptoms, don't hesitate to contact your doctor.

What causes otorrhea?

Common causes of otorrhea are:

• Ruptured eardrum.
• Middle Ear Infections (Chronic and Acute)
• Outer ear infections, i.e., swimmer's ear or fungal yeast infections of your ear canal.
• Unknown object embedded in your ear.

Less frequent causes of otorrhea are:

• An abnormal skin growth behind your eardrum (cholesteatoma).
• Fracture at the skull base.
• Cancer of the ear canal.
• Malignant (necrotizing) external otitis (a bad infection of your external auditory canal and skull base).

How is otorrhea diagnosed?

Your doctor will conduct a physical exam, which usually involves:

• Taking your vital signs to determine whether or not you have a fever.
• Looking in your ear canal for drainage, infection, or a perforated eardrum.
• Palpating around your ear, jaw and neck for swelling or other abnormalities.
• Checking the skin around your ear for redness and inflammation.

What tests can be used to diagnose otorrhea?

Usually, a physical examination is sufficient to diagnose otorrhea. But in order to validate your diagnosis, your physician will also suggest certain tests, such as:

• Audiometry: During an audiometry test, your hearing sensitivity and range are evaluated.
• CT Scan: Your doctor might perform a CT scan to determine whether the infection has progressed beyond your middle ear.
• MRI: If you've had head trauma, your doctor can use magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks.
• Cranial nerve Examination: If you have recently experienced head trauma or if you have difficulty seeing, swallowing, or speaking, your doctor will check the condition of your cranial nerves.
• Culture :Your doctor can take a sample of drainage and check to see if bacteria or fungi will grow on it.

How do you treat otorrhea?

Treatment for otorrhea depends on the underlying cause of the ear drainage. For example, if otorrhea results from bacterial infection within your middle ear, your doctor will probably prescribe you some antibiotics. Your doctor will probably use antibiotic ear drops to treat infections in your outer ear.

If you have a burst eardrum, it can recover in a couple of weeks on its own. However, surgery (tympanoplasty) is necessary to close the defect for some individuals.

If the reason is not instantly established, you may be sent to a specialist by your doctor. Individuals experiencing persistent ear infection may be seen by an otolaryngologist (ENT). If you suspect head injury as the causative factor, your doctor would most likely recommend a neurosurgeon to see you, along with possible treatment and more testing.

Do I have options for preventing otorrhea?

Since most causes of otorrhea are unavoidable, you can't prevent the condition entirely. However, in individuals who experience recurrent cases of a swimmer's ear, wearing special ear plugs during swimming or bathing will decrease the likelihood of drainage from the ear.

What happens if I have otorrhea?

Otorrhea treatment is usually uncomplicated. Your doctor will probably prescribe oral antibiotics or ear drops to eradicate infection.

If you or your child experiences recurring ear infections, your healthcare provider will send you to an ENT for additional testing.

Otorrhea as a consequence of a head injury within the last few hours will result in your healthcare provider sending you right away to see a neurosurgeon and decide what the next course of action will be. This is an emergency requiring prompt care.

How long is otorrhea?

Otorrhea can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). The duration of otorrhea depends on the cause.

When should I see my doctor?

If you have ear drainage for over three days, you should have a doctor call you in. You should also be seen immediately if you're experiencing pain, fevers or redness of your ear or your neck. Otorrhea is one of several different conditions that have both benign and serious causes. Early diagnosis is crucial.

When should I go to the ER?

If you've acquired ear drainage after a recent head injury or trauma, call a doctor or go to your local emergency room immediately. You should also get immediate attention if you have difficulty swallowing, speaking or seeing.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

Some questions you might consider asking your doctor are:

• What's causing the ear drainage?
• Do I have an ear infection? If so, what type?
• What drugs am I supposed to take?
• Must a specialist treat me?
• Will I require further tests?
• Do I require emergency treatment?

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Ear discharge treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital has the most trusted team of ENT Specialist and surgeons with advanced diagnostic equipment care for Ear Discharge Treatment in Lucknow, India. Our ENT department follows international safety standards and has years of experience in successfully managing ear related disease and conditions like Ear Discharge.

To seek an expert consultation for Ear Discharge Treatment in Lucknow, India

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