Discharge from the ear (otorrhea) is a symptom that signals the presence of pathological changes in the tissues of the organ of hearing. The color, consistency and odor of liquid discharge from the ear canal can be used to determine the root cause of the disease. In most cases, otorrhea occurs due to ear infections, barotrauma, intracranial injuries, etc.
The main source of the problem in preschool children is infectious lesions of the nasopharynx. If fluid is leaking from the ear, you should seek help from an otolaryngologist. A pathological symptom can signal both the leakage of earwax and perforation of the ear membrane.
Etiology
Why is fluid leaking from my ears? The presence of a liquid secretion does not always indicate the development of ENT diseases. You should worry if, along with otorrhea, there is severe itching, pain, hyperemia, etc. Inflammatory processes in the organ of hearing are the main provocateurs of fluid accumulation in the ear. The causes of inflammation can lie in the occurrence of the following pathologies:
- otomycosis;
- purulent otitis media;
- furunculosis;
- skull trauma;
- mastoiditis;
- bullous otitis media;
- polyps;
- cholesteatoma;
- myringitis;
- seborrheic dermatitis.
Depending on the type of ear disease, the discharge from the ear canal can be yellow, white, brown, black, or gray. Why is fluid leaking from my ear? With the defeat of the middle and inner ear, the secretion of a liquid secretion signals a perforation of the membrane. Violation of its integrity increases the risk of complications, therefore, if a symptom occurs, you need to be examined by an otolaryngologist.
Symptoms
In cases where fluid flows from the ears, one should be guided by the presence of concomitant symptoms. Usually, brown discharge from the ear indicates only the leakage of sulfur or the melting of the sulfur plug in the external auditory canal. The following pathological signs are reasons for concern:
- hyperthermia;
- hearing impairment;
- noises in the ear;
- dizziness;
- swelling of the outer ear;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- shooting ear pains;
- redness in the ear canal.
Ear pathologies develop against the background of a general infection and are provoked by nonspecific viruses and bacteria.
If fluid flows from the ear when the above symptoms occur, this may signal the development of infectious ear diseases. Ignoring the problem can cause generalization of catarrhal processes and the appearance of severe complications.
Transparent selections
Why does clear fluid come out of the ear? Lack of color and odor may indicate aseptic inflammation or serious injury. Even if the evacuation of liquid secretions from the ear canal may not be accompanied by pain, this does not exclude the possibility of developing chronic inflammation in the tissues of the middle ear. When a clear liquid flows out of the ear, the following pathologies are most often diagnosed:
- exudative otitis media - a disease characterized by the accumulation of serous effusion in the ear cavity. Transparent discharge from the ear indicates perforation of the membrane resulting from pressure on it of liquid secretion;
- allergy - allergic irritation in the external auditory canal, accompanied by the formation of vesicular rashes. Spontaneous opening of the vesicles leads to the fact that a clear liquid flows from the ear;
- skull fracture - a traumatic brain injury that occurs when the spine is fractured at the very base of the skull. Escaping clear fluid from the ear signals the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid, i.e. cerebrospinal fluid.
In some cases, serous (exudative) otitis media is the key cause of the appearance of watery, colorless discharge. At the perforated stage of the development of the disease, a clear liquid flows from the ears, which is caused by perforation of the ear membrane.
If a liquid colorless secretion occurs in the ear canal, you need to seek the help of a specialist. Ignoring the problem can lead to the addition of a bacterial or fungal infection, as a result of which the consistency, smell and color of the discharge will change.
Yellow discharge
In the overwhelming majority of cases, otorrhea is an alarming sign that signals pathological changes in the state of the organ of hearing. If a yellow fluid is leaking from the ear, specialists most often diagnose a bacterial infection. The reasons for the development of ear pathology can be chronic rhinitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia, etc.
Important! Purulent processes in the mucous epithelium can cause the appearance of irreversible morphological changes in soft and bone tissues, which is fraught with the development of auditory dysfunction and hearing loss.
Discharge from the ear with an unpleasant odor indicates the presence of pathological flora in the cavity of the affected ear. Inaction and untimely treatment of ENT disease is fraught with damage to the inner ear and the lining of the brain. The main causes of otorrhea include:
- purulent otitis media is an infectious pathology characterized by damage to the mucous membrane of the middle ear. Purulent discharge from the ear in adults signals the appearance of perforated holes in the ear membrane and degenerative changes in soft tissues;
- external limited otitis media - inflammation in the hair follicle, accompanied by the formation of painful abscesses in the external ear canal. With a spontaneous opening of the boil, a liquid with a smell is released from the ear;
- chronic otitis media - a sluggish inflammation in the tympanic cavity caused by staphylococci, streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, etc. During the period of exacerbation of catarrhal processes at the perforated stage of the development of pathology, purulent otorrhea is observed.
If the patient's ear hurts and a yellowish liquid with a putrid odor flows out, it is impossible to postpone the visit to the otolaryngologist. Untimely relief of inflammation leads to the development of mastoiditis, brain abscess and sepsis.
Bloody issues
The discharge of brown fluid from the ear signals a violation of the integrity of the capillaries, as a result of which hemorrhage occurs. Destruction of tissues can be caused by acute inflammation in the organ of hearing, the formation of benign and malignant tumors. The main reasons for the occurrence of an alarming symptom include:
- cholesteatomas - a benign neoplasm in the middle ear cavity, the growth of which leads to vascular damage, as a result of which a brownish fluid is released from the ear;
- rupture of the ear membrane - a mechanical violation of the integrity of the ear membrane, as a result of which small capillaries are damaged;
- bullous otitis media is a postinfluenza complication, accompanied by the formation of hemorrhagic vesicles on the walls of the mucous epithelium and ear membrane. The opening of the pustules leads to the evacuation of bloody impurities, staining the natural ear secretions brown;
- myringitis is an infectious inflammation in the ear membrane, accompanied by its perforation and, accordingly, minor hemorrhage into the external auditory canal.
What should you do if your ear hurts and brown fluid flows? Bloody impurities often signal a perforation of the tympanic membrane. For this reason, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drops cannot be instilled into the ear canals.The active components of the drugs will only contribute to irritation of the mucous membrane, as a result of which the state of health can only worsen.
Important! In the event of bloody impurities, the ear should not be warmed up, since this will only contribute to vasodilation and hemorrhage.
Black discharge
Why does black discharge from the ear appear? The staining of the liquid secretion often occurs due to the development of fungal flora in the foci of inflammation. As a rule, the provocateurs of pathological changes are mold and yeast-like fungi.
Black fluid in the ears - what is it? The pathological content is a natural secret secreted by the glands of the mucous membranes, and metabolites of the fungal flora, which stain it black. The key reasons for the development of otomycosis are:
- skin diseases;
- purulent otitis media;
- medicinal dysbiosis;
- microtrauma in the auditory canal;
- drug abuse;
- industrial hazards.
Black discharge from the ear in a person is extremely rarely the only symptom of the manifestation of the disease. With a fungal infection of the organ of hearing, the patient feels severe itching inside the ear, pain, headaches, etc. With the untimely elimination of pathogens from the ear canal, cheesy masses can be released, which indicates an intoxication of the body.
Diagnostics
The presence of otorrhea is a good reason for seeking help from an otolaryngologist. If fluid is leaking from the ear, a visual examination of the patient may not be sufficient to make an accurate diagnosis. To determine the cause of the appearance of pathological symptoms, the doctor conducts the following types of examinations:
- otoscopy - a visual examination of the ear canal and membrane to determine the presence of inflammatory processes in the outer ear;
- otomicroscopy - a thorough examination of the ear and affected tissues using a microscope;
- tomography - computer diagnostics, which allows to determine the presence of injuries and injuries inside the organ of hearing;
- impedance measurement - a comprehensive audiometric examination, with the help of which it is possible to determine the degree of hearing loss, the presence of perforations in the ear membrane, the degree of patency of the auditory canals, etc.
Analysis of the contents in the diseased ear can establish the root cause of fluid secretion from the ears in adults. This contributes to a more accurate diagnosis and the choice of appropriate drugs for the relief of catarrhal processes.
Treatment principles
Fluid in the ear can accumulate due to the development of pathogens of various nature. Therefore, during
the choice of suitable drugs and methods of treatment of ear pathology are guided by the color, smell and consistency of the discharge. For example, a clear liquid signals aseptic inflammation, therefore, to relieve the symptoms of pathology, drugs that have decongestant, antiphlogistic and antiallergic effects will be required.
To eliminate discharge from the ears, experts use the following groups of medications:
- antihistamines ("Loratadin", "Zyrtec") - eliminate inflammation and swelling of tissues, which leads to drainage of the middle ear and the evacuation of serous effusion from it;
- systemic antibiotics ("Amoxicillin", "Suprax") - stop inflammatory processes by inhibiting the synthesis of cellular structures of pathogenic bacteria;
- ear antibacterial drops ("Normaks", "Otofa") - inhibit the activity of pathogenic flora in the lesions, thereby accelerating the regression of inflammatory processes;
- antimycotics (Pimafucin, Intraconazole) - kill mold and yeast-like fungi that provoke the development of otomycosis;
- pain relievers (Paracetamol, Nurofen) - relieve pain by reducing the sensitivity of receptors in the affected tissues;
- corticosteroids ("Solukortef", "Dexazon") - contribute to the elimination of inflammatory processes, which facilitates the outflow of effusion from the organ of hearing;
- vasoconstrictor drops (Galazolin, Otrivin) - relieve swelling and normalize the drainage function of the auditory canals, which leads to drainage of the tympanic cavity.
It is not recommended to use vasoconstrictor drugs for women during gestation. This can lead to high blood pressure, premature birth, or miscarriage.
To quickly eliminate fluid in the ears, you need to carry out complex treatment with the use of physiotherapy procedures. To restore the drainage function of the Eustachian tube and normalize tissue trophism, the following are used:
- UHF therapy;
- blowing through Politzer;
- warming up with a blue lamp;
- electrophoresis;
- inhalation.
In case of untimely treatment of pathology, surgical intervention may be required. In particular, purulent inflammation often causes the appearance of adhesions on the auditory ossicles, which leads to a restriction of their mobility. To eliminate conductive hearing loss, stapedoplasty can be used, which involves replacing the mineralized bone with autocartilage.
