Draining From the Ear
Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI
Reviewed By:
Rohini R, MD (Ear, nose, throat (ENT))
Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
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Content updated on Jan 4, 2023
About the symptom
Otorrhea, or ear discharge, is any fluid that comes from the ear. It's usually caused due to infection.
When to see a doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
Fever
Possible causes
- Otitis media
Infection of the middle ear (area just behind the eardrum) by bacteria or viruses. Although the cause is an infection, risk factors include a blocked nose, allergies, and smoke exposure.
Related serious diseases
- Perforated tympanic membrane
A hole in the eardrum. It is typically caused by direct injury (e.g. ear digging with buds or a slap to the ear), but can also be caused by infections in the middle ear.
Questions your doctor may ask about this symptom
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom
Do you have ear discharge?
Do you have ear pain?
Do you have a fever?
Have you ever felt dizzy with ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or deafness?
Do you have problems focusing or a reduced sense of awareness in your surroundings?
Other Related Symptoms
Similar symptoms or complaints
Symptoms from the same body system / part
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
References
Otorrhea: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-80691-0_14
Acute otitis media in adults
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/acute-otitis-media-in-adults?search=otorrhoea
Ear infections
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ear-infections/
Turner JS JR. Otalgia and Otorrhea. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd ed. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 122. PMID: 21250071.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK227/
Reviewed By:
Rohini R, MD (Ear, nose, throat (ENT))
Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
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Obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN)
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