Discharge From the Ear: Causes, Treatment & Help

Discharge from the ear is not only very unpleasant, it can also be accompanied by severe pain in the ear canal. Often the reason is an inflammation in the ear canal, which can have various causes and always requires medical treatment. To do this, the doctor must first find the cause of the discharge from the ear.

What is discharge from the ear?

Often the reason for discharge from the ear is inflammation in the ear canal, which can have various causes and always requires medical treatment. Discharge from the ear is the acute secretion of secretions from the ear canal via the auricle. The fluid runs out of the ear through the ear canal by itself, in very bad cases the secretion also drips on the clothes, which can be very unpleasant for the patient. This discharge from the ear can be purulent or even bloody and always suggests a pathological inflammation of the ear or eardrum. Affected people usually also have severe pain in the ear and are affected by other symptoms such as fever or dizziness. The discharge from the ear can be very unpleasant for the patient in the long run, because the discharge of secretion often causes tickling in the ear, which can be a huge burden.

Causes

Discharge from the ear often results from inflammation in the inner ear. This may be an inflammation of the ear canal, in which the inflamed skin of the ear canal secretes secretions, or it may be a middle ear infection (otitis media), in which fluid is secreted from a hole in the eardrum. While otitis media often results from manipulation of the ear canal and subsequent entry of pathogens into injured areas, middle ear infections have bacterial causes that produce the symptoms. Both types of inflammation can usually be very painful and regularly bring other symptoms. In addition to discharge from the ear, there may be general fatigue, fever, a feeling of (stinging) pressure in the ears, reduced hearing, and dizziness and balance problems.

Diseases with this symptom

  • Otitis media
  • Ear flow (otorrhea)
  • Ear infection

Diagnosis and course

In the case of discharge from the ears and ear pain, a doctor should always be consulted so that a diagnosis can be made. Untreated ear infections can otherwise take a chronic course in the worst case and affect the patient throughout his life. In order to make a diagnosis, a number of examinations and tests are available. The doctor will first clarify in a conversation exactly which symptoms are present. He will then take a closer look at the ear canal by means of an otoscopy, using an ear funnel to visually examine the inner ear. In this process, inflammations are often clearly recognizable by redness or a bulging of the eardrum. A hearing test is also usually performed to measure hearing, which can be important for monitoring progress. If necessary, the doctor may perform additional tests to check how mobile the eardrum is and how well the Eustachian tube is functioning.

Complications

Discharge from the ear is not only unpleasant, it can also be a serious condition. Most often it is an inflammation of the ear canal, but the doctor must find the exact cause. Discharge from the ear is a secretion that is transported out through the ear canal via the pinna. The discharge can even be bloody or purulent and always indicates inflammation of the eardrum or ear. This discharge is accompanied by severe pain and often patients suffer from dizziness or fever. The discharge from the ear is always unpleasant for the patient, even if there are no accompanying symptoms. This is because the discharge of secretion causes tingling in the ear and often the fluid does not smell good. Often the inner ear has become inflamed and can be treated quickly with ear drops. Above all, the ear drops should be administered at night, because especially ear pain intensifies many times during the night. Thus, the pain should be relieved and at the same time the fever is lowered. If it is a bacterial infection, antibiotics are used and in case of emergency, the doctor can also rinse the ear to reduce the bacteria and clean the ear.If there is already secretion attached to the eardrum, a puncture is made and the secretion is aspirated. The patient will quickly feel pain relief, the pressure in the ear is significantly reduced. The patient will also hear better again. In addition, ear drops are given and infrared light promotes healing.

When should you go to the doctor?

Discharge from the ear may be an overproduction of lard. This, if not chronic, usually does not require clarification by a doctor. However, it may be helpful to have the ear cleaned by an ear, nose and throat specialist. This is especially true if there is decreased hearing. In some cases, the ear is not capable of cleaning itself. In this case, seeing a doctor can provide relief from symptoms as well as improved hearing. If the discharge is greenish and smells unpleasant, there is an infection with bacteria. This must be presented to an ear, nose and throat specialist as soon as possible. The sooner treatment begins, the lower the likelihood of irreversible damage to the inner ear. If a bacterial ear infection with discharge is not treated in time, it can spread to the auditory bone and destroy it. A visit to the doctor is also unavoidable if the discharge from the ear is accompanied by pain or if there is bloody discharge from the ear. In this case, there could be an internal injury of the ear. The first diagnosis can be made here by the family doctor. In some circumstances, this will recommend a further examination by the ear, nose and throat specialist.

Treatment and therapy

Treatment of discharge from the ear depends on the cause. First and foremost in the treatment of all ear infections are always decongestant ear drops, so that the secretion is not further prevented from flowing away by swollen mucous membranes. To reduce pain, certain painkillers can be administered. These are intended above all to make the nights pain-free, because earache usually intensifies many times over at night. These painkillers are also used as antipyretics at the same time. If it is a bacterial infection, a middle ear infection, which causes the discharge from the ear, antibiotics are used for treatment. In some circumstances, the doctor may also perform ear irrigation to clean the ear and reduce the density of bacteria. This can speed up the healing process. If a lot of secretion has accumulated behind the eardrum, a puncture may be considered. This involves puncturing the eardrum and aspirating the secretion. This relieves the patient’s pain because the pressure in the ear is reduced. Hearing is also improved by this measure. Ear drops can also be administered. Irradiation with red light relieves pain and promotes healing.

Outlook and prognosis

Discharge from the ear can have various causes. Accordingly, the prognosis and course of this complaint also turn out differently. In the case of transparent discharge from the ear caused due to inflammation, the discharges decrease simultaneously with itching and disappear after a short time. If during a simple inflammation there is an additional bacterial infection, the discharge may begin to turn greenish and smell bad. If such a bacterial inflammation persists for a longer period of time, it can become chronic. As a result, the discharges can become a permanent condition. In addition to the discharges, there may then also be severe impairment of hearing. Increased fatigue can also develop in the course of chronic inflammation in the ear canal. The discharge from the ear may also begin to become purulent and bloody in the course of inflammation. In almost every case, this indicates that the inflammation has spread to deeper areas of the ear, sometimes as far as the eardrum. If the discharge does not stop despite appropriate therapy, it could also be an anatomical problem. Some malformations in the auditory apparatus can lead to constant discharge. These can then only be corrected by means of surgery.

Prevention

Discharge from the ear or the causative diseases for it, can be prevented. All manipulations of the ear canal should be avoided, such as inserting cotton swabs into the ear canal to clean it.Vaccines against the pathogens of otitis media are available and recommended for children. If the patient is known to suffer from damage to the eardrum, water should be prevented from entering the ear, such as when showering or swimming. If children frequently suffer from middle ear infections, the use of tympanostomy tubes may be considered, as well as the removal of the adenoids.

What you can do yourself

A discharge from the ear usually indicates an inflammation in the inner ear. Those who suffer from such an inflammation in the ear should pay attention to a thorough cleaning. Otherwise, there is a risk of significant aggravation. The ear should be cleaned or washed with clear water several times a day. If a purulent fluid is already coming out of the ear, then recourse should be made to the use of antibiotics. This is the only way to effectively treat the inflammation. Cold should also be avoided. Rinsing the ears with chamomile tea, can also bring about relief from the inflammation. So, if you suffer from discharge from the ear, you should stay at home in your own four walls. Bed rest and a warm environment contribute to a quick and rapid recovery. If there is no improvement even after three to four days, then a doctor should be consulted immediately. However, if you decide to take antibiotics and bed rest, the inflammation in the ear should be under control within a short time. By regularly cleaning the inner ear, future inflammation can be prevented.