Ear discharge

Causes

Foreign object in the ear canal.
Injury from a blow to the head, foreign object, very loud noises, or sudden pressure changes (such as in airplanes)
Inserting cotton-tipped swabs or other small objects into the ear.
Middle ear infection.

Symptoms

Most of the time, any fluid leaking out of an ear is ear wax. A ruptured eardrum can cause a white, slightly bloody, or yellow discharge from the ear. Dry crusted material on a child’s pillow is often a sign of a ruptured eardrum. The eardrum may also bleed

Precautions

People can help prevent conditions that cause ear drainage by taking steps to care for their ears, such as:

using earplugs in the ear when swimming to help keep water out and prevent infection
blowing the nose gently, not forcefully
carefully drying the outside of the ears after getting them wet
avoiding inserting any objects into the ear

Investigations

An instrument called a pneumatic otoscope is often the only specialized tool a doctor needs to diagnose an ear infection. This instrument enables the doctor to look in the ear and judge whether there is fluid behind the eardrum. With the pneumatic otoscope, the doctor gently puffs air against the eardrum.

Treatment

Doctors often prescribe antibiotics for some types of infection, which people can take by mouth or as ear drops, depending on the location of the infection in the ear. To help ease an earache, people can use a warm compress on the ear or take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen. A ruptured eardrum often heals without treatment in a few weeks to 2 months. People can help the healing process and prevent infection by keeping the ear dry and protecting it from loud noises and physical shocks. If an eardrum does not heal on its own, surgery may be needed to place a patch of new skin over the hole. A doctor can prescribe antibiotics to treat ear fluid. The use of a decongestant and an antihistamine in combination will help minimize congestion. If this treatment is not effective, the doctor may place an auditory tube through the middle ear to allow fluids to drain as usual.

Complication

Most complications are the result of the infection spreading to another part of the ear or head, including: the bones behind the ear (mastoiditis) the inner ear (labyrinthitis) the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)