Ear Discharge - Is It Dangerous?

Also known as otorrhoea, ear discharge is a condition where fluid oozes from your ear. In most cases, this discharge is just your excess earwax coming out. Your body produces earwax to keep your ears protected and clean. Therefore, the emission of earwax is nothing to worry about. However, a different type of fluid such as blood is discharged sometimes, usually indicating a ruptured eardrum.

Read on to know when you should worry about your ear discharge.

Causes for ear discharge:

The three main causes of discharge from your ears that indicate a problem are-

1. Middle ear infection - Infection of the middle ear is common, which often causes ear discharge as a symptom. The middle ear is the area behind the eardrum and contains vital bones that make hearing possible. During an infection in this region, fluid builds up increases. Excessive fluid in the middle ear leads to perforation of the eardrums and spillage of this fluid.

2. Trauma - If excessive pressure causes trauma to your eardrum, it may lead to fluid discharge from your ears as well. For instance, pressure applied to the eardrums while cleaning it with a cotton swab can lead to perforation and discharge of bodily fluids. Similarly, unequal pressure conditions while flying in a plane or scuba diving can also cause a tear in your eardrums, resulting in discharge. Excessively loud noises can also lead to ear trauma.

3. Swimmer’s ear - This condition occurs if you spend too much time underwater. Spending prolonged periods underwater leads to the breakdown of the skin in your ear canal. This leaves the region susceptible to bacterial infections. Such infections can then result in discharge of fluids from your ear.

When should you visit the doctor for ear discharge?

In most cases, ear discharge is absolutely normal and does not warrant a visit to the doctor. However, you should seek medical help in the following instances -

• your discharge is white, yellow or bloody in colour
• the discharge continues for more than 5 days at a stretch
• you suffer from other symptoms, such as fever, along with the ear discharge
• you experience severe pain or notice redness or inflammation of the ear
• you experience loss of hearing
• the discharge occurs after an injury to your ears

Treating ear discharge:

Your doctor will shortlist the cause of your ear discharge before starting treatment. If an infection causes it, you will be given antibiotics to fight the infection. However, if the discharge is due to trauma, pain medications will help deal with the discomfort. In the case of eardrum perforation, doctors may perform a paper patch procedure to seal the tear inside your ear.