Injuries to the ear drum usually heal without being treated. You can use pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.Ĭhronic suppurative otitis media and swimmer’s ear need to be treated with antibiotic ear drops. Middle ear infections usually clear up in a few days without treatment. Often you will be advised to keep the ear as dry as possible and avoid swimming. Treatment for fluid from the ear will depend on what is causing the problem. Sometimes you might need to have a hearing test a CT or MRI scan. This is often all that’s needed to diagnose what is causing the fluid. Your doctor will look in your ear using an instrument called an otoscope. feel dizzy or have trouble with your visionĬall triple zero (000) for an ambulance if you see fluid or blood leaking from the ear of a person who has recently had a head injury.įIND A HEALTH SERVICE - The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.ĪSK YOUR DOCTOR - Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.You should also see your doctor immediately if your ear is swollen, painful or red or if you: Keep your ear dry in the meantime, and avoid swimming or bathing until after you’ve been examined by a doctor. See your doctor if you notice any fluid leaking from your ear. Eczema of the ear - this can cause clear discharge.The fluid might look clear or blood-stained. A serious head injury - this can cause fluid from the brain to leak out of the ear.Cholesteatoma - this is an abnormal growth of cells in the middle ear, which can cause fluid with a bad smell to leak from the ear.You might notice fluid containing blood or pus leaking from the ear. An object in the ear - this usually happens if a child puts something like a small toy or stone in their ear.This can cause fluid to leak through the hole and out of your ear. Damage to the ear drum - your ear drum can tear if you push an object such as a cotton bud in too deeply, or if you are exposed to changes in pressure.Other causes of fluid from the ear include the following: There are also serious infections that can cause fluid from the ear, such as mastoiditis (an infection of the bone behind your ear) or malignant otitis externa (an infection of the ear canal and part of the skull). Discharge can build up in the ear canal and drain from the ear. You might see lots of white, yellow or green fluid draining from the ear without any pain.Īn outer ear infection, also called otitis externa or swimmer’s ear, occurs when the skin inside the ear canal swells and becomes infected. This can occur after a middle ear infection and can also occur if you have grommets. This is called chronic suppurative otitis media. If the ear drum doesn’t heal, fluid can continue to drain out. You might see thick yellow fluid draining from the ear following severe pain. Sometimes the fluid causes so much pressure that the ear drum bursts. It is especially common in children but can happen at any age. What causes fluid from the ear?įluid draining from the ear is often caused by ear infections.Ī middle ear infection, also called otitis media, causes a build-up of fluid behind the ear drum. The fluid might contain wax, blood or pus. You might have pain, itching, loss of hearing or ringing in your ear, or you might feel unwell with dizziness or a fever. Symptoms depend on what is causing the fluid or discharge. What symptoms are related to fluid from the ear? However, sometimes it can be a sign of an ear problem or injury. Sometimes it is your body getting rid of ear wax - a mixture of oil and solid materials your ears naturally produce to prevent dust and bacteria from getting in. Related information on Australian websitesįluid or discharge from the ear, also called otorrhoea, refers to any substance draining from your ear.What symptoms are related to fluid from the ear?.Don’t clean your ears with cotton buds or put anything into your ears.You may be advised to keep your ears dry.See your doctor if you notice any fluid leaking from your ear, especially if you have a fever, hearing loss or dizziness or if your ear is red and swollen.
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