Discharge from the ear – causes and types. Discharge in the course of otitis

Proven content

Discharge from the ear in the external auditory canal is caused by diseases of the ear canal or middle ear, with leakage following damage to the eardrum. The discharge from the ear can vary in color depending on the disease that caused it. Thanks to proper diagnosis and treatment, the patient has a chance to heal faster.

A few words about the discharge from the ear …

Secretion is a substance that comes out of the external ear canal. The ear consists of three parts:

1. the outer ear separated from the middle ear by the eardrum,
2. middle ear,
3. inner ear.

The only normal discharge from the ear that occurs in a healthy person is earwax, which has a different consistency, therefore it is often mistaken for an ear discharge. Producing wax in the ear canal in large amounts and improper care of the ears can cause earwax to leak from the ears. As a result of the action of heat (placed head against the pillow or using the sauna), the earwax becomes soft and can flow out. It is not dangerous to humans. In other cases, leakage from the ear indicates medical conditions. The type of discharge depends on the type of disease, and there is often a characteristic pain and stinging in the ear. An indication for urgent medical intervention is the leakage of yellow, mucous, serous or bloody discharge, especially if it persists for several days and is accompanied by fever and hearing impairment,

Causes and types of discharge from the ear

Discharge from the ear usually appears due to ongoing inflammatory diseases of the middle and outer ear.

Types of discharge:

1. pure bloody discharge – observed with damage to the ear canal and / or damage to the eardrum, open skull fracture, and with a malignant tumor; also improper ear hygiene may contribute to the formation of bloody discharge from the ear (e.g. using cotton buds, scratching the ear with a fingernail),
2. blood-borne discharge – in purulent otitis media with perforation of the tympanic membrane, after opening an abscess in the boil of the ear canal,
3. purulent discharge – occurs in the course of subacute otitis media with perforation, in the course of chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma, inflammatory reactions of the ear canal with a long-standing foreign body or disintegrating tumors; inflammation can develop in both the outer and middle ear,
4. cloudy, watery discharge – may be related to chronic inflammation in the ear. The discharge appears due to the lack of treatment of the inflammation, and remaining in the middle ear, it can lead to perforation of the eardrum. Cloudy, mucous discharge can also appear due to damage to the eardrum, such as from a sudden pressure change. The leakage then becomes a thick and white discharge.

Discharge in the course of otitis

Ear leakage often occurs in diseases of the ear, the most common:

1. in inflammation of the outer ear,
2. in acute, subacute or chronic otitis media.

Discharge occurs due to viral, bacterial or fungal infection and as a consequence of minor damage to the epithelium of the ear canal. Very often such mundane activities as cleaning the ears with cotton buds or listening to music through headphones put in the ears cause damage. Inflammation of the outer ear, apart from the discharge from the ear, is manifested by earache, headache and high temperature. The pain is especially worsening when you chew gum. The patient’s hearing may be impaired.

The onset of otitis media is associated with the presence of fluid in the tympanic cavity. As a consequence, the retention of secretions may lead to perforation of the tympanic membrane and its escape. Exudative otitis, as mentioned above, comes in three forms:

1. acute (lasts up to ten days),
2. oodoacute (lasts longer than 10 days, but less than 3 months),
3. chronic (inflammation lasts over 3 months).

Discharge from the ear of a child

Inflammation of the ear in children (especially in the middle) usually affects those from 6 months of age. up to 5 years. In this group of patients, discharge from the ear occurs mainly due to inflammatory complaints. It should be emphasized that the craniofacial structure is slightly different than in adults. A child’s ear infection usually occurs due to obstruction of the Eustachian tube, for example, from an enlarged palatine tonsil. Other factors that increase the risk of otitis in children, and thus of secretions from the ear, include:

1. bronchial asthma,
2. chronic sinusitis,
3. deviated nasal septum,
4. cystic fibrosis
5. gastrointestinal reflux,
6. allergies,
7. frequent infections of the upper respiratory tract.

Children very often come up with strange ideas while playing, and so, for example, they put various objects in their ears. These types of actions may injure the ear canal and thus cause bloody discharge from the ear. As a consequence, the place of injury is attacked by various microorganisms and inflammation of the outer ear develops.

Diagnosis of discharge from the ear

People who come to a doctor with the problem of discharge from the ear are first subjected to its endoscopy. The examination is performed by a family doctor or pediatrician using an otoscope. In most patients, it is necessary to aspirate the residual secretions and clean the ear, and then perform an examination under a diagnostic microscope. Hence, most patients are referred to an ENT specialist who has not only extensive knowledge of ear diseases, but also appropriate equipment for examination. A doctor who wants to make an appropriate diagnosis often orders a bacteriological examination of the discharge from the ear to determine the bacteria that caused inflammation and to determine its sensitivity to possible antibiotics. However, in patients with chronic otitis and secretions, immunity disorders and diabetes should be excluded.

Discharge from the ear – how to proceed?

Additional treatment is not required only if discharge occurs during acute antibiotic-treated otitis. Then the excess secretion should be removed from the ear (mechanical cleaning of the ear canal is a very important element of the therapy). Leakage should disappear after about 2-4 days, but if it persists for longer despite antibiotic treatment, an ENT specialist should be consulted immediately.

It is important to provide the patient with pain relief as the pain in the ear can be so severe that it is actually preventing it from functioning normally. Topical antibiotics with a spectrum of action are used. Antibiotic therapy should be continued until indicated by the doctor, this is especially important in the course of fungal infections that require long-term treatment.

How to prevent ear inflammation?

In order to prevent otitis, there are several important steps to remember. First of all, it is important to avoid long-term soaking of the feeling while bathing, because moisture promotes the formation of infections. If water gets in your ear, dry it as soon as possible to avoid hypothermia. The use of cotton buds to clean the ears is also a matter of dispute. In general, they are not recommended for this purpose, because the earwax remaining in the ear is pushed even deeper into the ear instead of being removed. Special drops that soften the secretion are better to use.