Otorrhea, or ear drainage, is a common condition that can affect people of any age. It can also be a sign of several health conditions, depending on the type of fluid coming out of the ear. Read on to learn more about this condition, its various types and how to treat ear drainage.
Otorrhea is the medical term for ear drainage and is occasionally referred to as “watery ears” or “runny ears.” In most cases, this ear drainage is the result of a ruptured eardrum from an ear infection. This hole in the eardrum allows fluid from your middle ear to drain out into your ear canal.
In most cases, ear drainage is the result of a perforated tympanic membrane, or a ruptured eardrum, from an ear infection. Building pressure from fluid accumulation in the middle ear causes the eardrum to rupture, allowing the fluid to drain out into the ear canal. Other otorrhea causes include:
Otorrhea occurs most often in children, whose smaller and narrower Eustachian tubes put them at a higher risk of developing ear infections. If a child has chronic ear infections, doctors may place ear tubes into the eardrum to allow air to flow into and drainage out from the middle ear, preventing fluid buildup behind the eardrums. In rarer cases, otorrhea can be caused by:
These are unlikely causes of otorrhea; discuss your symptoms with a doctor to determine what might be causing your ear drainage.
While otorrhea is often the result of an ear infection, ear drainage itself doesn’t necessarily mean that you have an infection. Otorrhea can occur if a foreign object is stuck in the ear, after a head injury or following improper ear cleaning, or after being in water. However, otorrhea is most commonly a symptom of a middle ear infection (otitis media).
Otorrhea will appear in various colors and forms, depending on the type and cause of the drainage. You may notice it leaking from the ear, or you may notice it dried in the ear canal or on your pillow. Monitor your symptoms by taking note of the color and volume of the drainage, as well the number of days you notice drainage.
Otorrhea appears in several different forms, depending on the root cause and severity of the problem. Recognizing the signs of the various types of ear drainage can help you determine how to treat otorrhea. The primary types of otorrhea include:
The most noticeable otorrhea symptoms are simply drainage from the ear. This drainage may appear in several different ways: it may be odorless or have a distinct, foul smell; it may be thick or thin in consistency; and it may be clear, yellow, greenish or bloodied in color. The exact appearance of the ear discharge will vary depending on what is causing the ear to drain. Other otorrhea symptoms include:
More serious symptoms include:
Those experiencing these more serious symptoms may have also experienced recent head trauma.
To receive an otorrhea diagnosis, your healthcare provider will perform a variety of physical exams to determine the cause behind your ear drainage. These may include:
You might also hear your doctor talk about an otorrhea differential diagnosis. It simply means that you have symptoms that match more than one cause or condition, so further testing needs to be done. Some of those additional tests could include:
Discuss your symptoms honestly and thoroughly with your doctor during your visits to help them make an accurate diagnosis. Otorrhea can be a sign of numerous conditions, so clear communication about your symptoms can help direct further testing.
Similarly to receiving a diagnosis, otorrhea treatment focuses on treating the cause of the drainage.
If the exact cause can’t be singled out, you may be referred to a hearing care specialist, otolaryngologist or a neurosurgeon (if head trauma is involved) for additional evaluation and treatment.
Otorrhea isn’t 100% avoidable, but these small otorrhea prevention steps can help reduce your risk of ear drainage. If your ear drainage is caused by otitis media:
If your otorrhea is the result of swimmer’s ear:
While otorrhea generally goes away in a few days as an ear infection resolves, schedule an appointment with your physician if your ear drainage lasts more than three days. Meet with your physician as soon as possible if you notice any additional symptoms, including pain, fever or redness around the ears and neck. Your doctor will review your symptoms and provide further treatment recommendations to address the ear drainage.
If you’ve noticed otorrhea following recent head trauma or injury, call 911 or go to an emergency room. Seek immediate care if you’re unable to speak, swallow or see. Otorrhea is a symptom of multiple health conditions, both serious and benign, so immediate conversations with your doctor are important.
First consult with your physician and then they will refer you to the hearing care specialist when appropriate. When ear infections are left untreated, they may cause hearing loss.
Otorrhea can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic). It depends entirely on the cause of the ear drainage. If your symptoms are caused by a bacterial infection in the middle ear, your ear infection—and ear drainage—will resolve itself in a few days. For most ear infections and related otorrhea, your doctor might advise that it’s best to allow the infection to heal on its own.
In the case of otorrhea caused by a ruptured eardrum from an ear infection, it may take several weeks for the eardrum to heal on its own. If antibiotics are needed for a prolonged ear infection, your doctor may prescribe a course of medication.
