Are You Sick?

Ear Discharge

Is this your symptom?

Drainage of substance or liquid from the ear canal
Drainage through an ear tube is included

Types of Ear Discharge

Pus or Cloudy Fluid. This is the most common type of ear discharge. The main cause is a middle ear infection. The drainage comes through a torn eardrum. The eardrum ruptures in about 10% of bacterial ear infections. It often heals itself after the infection and drainage have settled. Sometimes a small hole remains.
Otitis externa. Another common cause of discharge from infection in the ear canal, including swimmer's ear.
Ear Tube Fluid Release. People with frequent ear infections may get ventilation tubes put in. These help the middle ear drain its fluids and become dry. Sometimes, the ear tube gets plugged up. Normal fluids build up in the middle ear until the ear tube opens up again. This can cause some clear fluid drainage from the ear canal for a day.
Earwax. Earwax is light brown, dark brown, or orange brown in color. If it gets wet, it can look like a discharge.
Blood. This follows an injury to the ear. Usually, it's just a minor scratch of the lining of the ear canal.
Water. Bath or shower water can get in the ear canal. Seeing a clear "discharge" that happens once is likely this.
Swimmer's Ear Discharge. Early symptoms are an itchy ear canal. Later symptoms include a whitish, watery discharge. Mainly occurs in swimmers and in the summer time.
Ear Canal Foreign Object. Small objects sometimes get put into the ear canal. It can cause a low grade infection and pus-colored discharge. If the object was sharp, the discharge may have streaks of blood.

When to Call for Ear Discharge

When to Call for Ear Discharge
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now Pink or red swelling behind the ear Clear or bloody fluid draining from the ear after a head injury Bleeding from the ear canal. Exception: few drops and after an ear exam. Fever You feel very sick You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent	Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours Severe ear pain Discharge is yellow or green, cloudy white or smells bad Clear drainage (not from a head injury) lasts more than 24 hours You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent Contact Doctor During Office Hours You have other questions or concerns	Self Care at Home Normal earwax or other harmless discharge

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

Pink or red swelling behind the ear
Clear or bloody fluid draining from the ear after a head injury
Bleeding from the ear canal. Exception: few drops and after an ear exam.
Fever
You feel very sick
You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

Severe ear pain
Discharge is yellow or green, cloudy white or smells bad
Clear drainage (not from a head injury) lasts more than 24 hours
You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

Normal earwax or other harmless discharge

Care Advice for Ear Discharge

Earwax:
- Ear wax protects the lining of the ear canal and has germ-killing properties.
- If the earwax is removed, the ear canals become itchy.
- Use cotton swabs with care. There is a risk that the ear canal or ear drum could be damaged. Part of a cotton swab may have come off and gotten stuck in the ear.
- Call Your Doctor If: the discharge looks like pus (yellow or green) or if you think something is stuck in the ear which might be causing the discharge.
Clear Discharge (without head injury):
- Most likely, this is from water that entered the ear canal. This can happen during a bath, shower, or swimming.
- If you have ventilation tubes inserted, some clear or slightly cloudy fluid can occur. This happens when a tube blockage opens up and drains.
- Call Your Doctor If: clear drainage lasts for more than 24 hours.
Blood After Ear Exam:
- Sometimes, ear wax needs to be removed by your doctor to see the eardrum. If ear wax was removed, it can cause a small scratch inside the ear canal. This happens about 10% of the time. The scratch oozes 1 or 2 drops of blood, then clots.
- This should heal in a few days.
- It shouldn't affect the hearing.
- Don't put anything in the ear canal. This may start the bleeding again.
- Call Your Doctor If: bleeding starts again.
Cloudy Discharge - Ear Infection:
- Cloudy fluid or pus draining from the ear canal usually means there's an ear infection.
- The pus drains because there's a small tear in the eardrum.
Pain and Fever Medicine:
- To help with the pain and/or fever, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
- Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Ibuprofen works well for this type of pain.
- Use as needed, but do not take more than the maximum recommended dosage as stated on the packet.
- If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.
- See the Earache care guide for more advice.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Your symptoms get worse

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

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