Medical history (history of the patient) represents an important component in the diagnosis of ear discharge (otorrhea).
Family history
- What is the general health of your relatives?
- Are there any diseases in your family that are common?
- Are there any hereditary diseases in your family?
Social history
- What is your profession?
- Have you been to the tropics recently?
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- How long have the changes been present?
- Are both ears affected?
- What does the ear discharge look like? Does the ear discharge smell?
- Does the ear discharge occur continuously or only occasionally? If so, when?
- Do you experience ear pain?
- Have you noticed any skin changes?
- Do you suffer from hearing loss?
- Do you suffer from fever? If so, what is the temperature and how long has it been?
- Do you remember a trigger?
Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.
- Do you swim frequently?
Self history including medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (ear diseases)
- Operations
- Radiotherapy
- Vaccination status
- Allergies
- Environmental history
- Medication history
