Fluid Discharge From Ear: Causes & When to See ENT

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Fluid Discharge From Ear: Causes, Symptoms and When to See a Doctor

Fluid discharge from the ear means any liquid coming out of the ear canal. It may be clear, cloudy, yellow, green or blood tinged, and it can happen in one ear or both.

In many cases fluid discharge from the ear follows an infection or a small tear in the eardrum, but it can also be due to outer ear inflammation after swimming or a foreign object. This article explains the most common causes, key symptoms to watch, and exactly when to see an ENT doctor. If you are in Kerala and need trusted care, the team at Ascent ENT Hospital Kerala can evaluate you quickly and safely.

What counts as fluid discharge from ear

Doctors sometimes call it otorrhea, but practically it is any noticeable liquid from the ear that is not water from bathing. Fluid discharge from the ear can be thin and watery, thick like pus, or mixed with blood. The discharge may have an odour, and it may appear after pain, pressure or hearing muffling.

Common causes of fluid discharge from ear

Acute middle ear infection with a small eardrum tear

A middle ear infection can build pressure behind the eardrum. If a tiny tear opens, fluid discharge from the ear may relieve the pain suddenly. You might notice fever, ear fullness and reduced hearing. See the best Doctor for Ear Infection in Kerala if symptoms persist beyond 24 to 48 hours.

Swimmer’s ear, also called otitis externa

This is an infection of the ear canal skin. Trapped moisture irritates the canal, then bacteria or fungi multiply. It usually causes ear pain when you tug the outer ear, itching and fluid discharge from ear that can be scanty or copious.

Eardrum perforation not due to infection

A sudden pressure change during flights or diving, a slap to the ear or poking with cotton buds can puncture the eardrum. This may cause brief pain, ringing and fluid discharge from ear. Many small perforations heal on their own, but persistent holes may need repair by the best tympanoplasty surgeon in kerala.

Chronic ear disease and cholesteatoma

Long standing middle ear problems can lead to recurring fluid discharge from the ear with a foul smell. Cholesteatoma is an abnormal skin growth behind the eardrum that erodes bone over time. It often needs surgery to clear infection and reconstruct the hearing bones. Ask about care from the best ossiculoplasty surgeon in kerala if your doctor suspects bone damage.

Foreign body or skin conditions

Children sometimes place small beads or paper fragments in the ear. Adults may have eczema or psoriasis of the canal. These can cause itching, pain and fluid discharge from the ear.

Trauma or a rare cerebrospinal fluid leak

Head injury or skull base fractures can rarely cause clear watery discharge that increases when bending forward. This needs urgent ENT and neurosurgical evaluation.

What the discharge may mean

Use this table as a starting point, but always let an ENT doctor make the diagnosis.

Appearance or smell	Likely causes	Other clues	What to do
Clear and watery	Swimmer’s ear, minor irritation after bathing, rare CSF leak after trauma	Itching if canal skin is inflamed, headache or recent injury if serious	Keep ear dry and see an ENT soon if it continues or follows a head injury
Thick yellow or green	Bacterial infection of canal or middle ear	Pain on touching ear, fever, ear fullness	Seek an ENT visit for examination and medicated drops
Bloody or blood stained	Canal scratch, perforated eardrum, trauma	Sudden pain then relief, ringing, reduced hearing	Do not insert cotton buds, see an ENT urgently
Foul smelling chronic discharge	Chronic ear disease or cholesteatoma	Hearing loss, dizziness sometimes	Needs ENT assessment and possible imaging

Symptoms that travel with fluid discharge from ear

Ear pain or a feeling of pressure
Itching of the canal
Hearing loss or muffled hearing
Tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing sound
Fever or general tiredness
Dizziness or imbalance
Bad odour from the ear

If any of these appear together with fluid discharge from ear for more than a day, book an appointment with an ENT specialist.

When to see a doctor for fluid discharge from ear

Seek urgent care now if you have any of the following with fluid discharge from ear:

Severe pain, high fever or spreading redness around the ear
Recent head injury with clear watery discharge
Sudden hearing loss, spinning vertigo or facial weakness
Bloody discharge after trauma
Symptoms in a child under six months

Book a routine but prompt visit if you have:

Discharge lasting more than 24 to 48 hours
Recurring episodes every few weeks
Itching and pain after swimming
History of eardrum perforation

As Kerala’s first ISO and NABH accredited ENT specialty hospital, Ascent Hospital provides 24x7 ENT emergency care. If you need help choosing a clinic, read our guide to find the best ear nose and throat clinic.

How ENT doctors diagnose the cause

An accurate diagnosis starts with a careful history and an ear examination under light or a microscope. Depending on your symptoms your ENT may perform:

Otoscopy or otomicroscopy to view the canal and eardrum
Gentle cleaning of debris so the eardrum can be seen clearly
Ear swab for culture if infection is persistent
Hearing tests, audiometry and tympanometry
Endoscopy of the nose and nasopharynx if needed
Imaging like a CT scan for suspected cholesteatoma or complications

At Ascent ENT Hospital Kerala, advanced diagnostic tools and a dedicated balance and vertigo clinic help identify the exact reason for fluid discharge from ear quickly.

Treatment options for fluid discharge from ear

Treatment depends on the cause and on whether the eardrum is intact.

Bacterial or fungal canal infections: Medicated ear drops are commonly prescribed. Pain relief and strict water precautions help recovery. Avoid self medicating with leftover drops.
Middle ear infection with a small tear: Drops or oral medicines may be used after your doctor checks the perforation. Follow up is important until the ear is dry.
Eardrum perforation: Many small perforations heal with rest and dry ear precautions. Persistent holes that affect hearing may need surgical repair by the best tympanoplasty surgeon in kerala.
Chronic infection or cholesteatoma: Microsurgery may clear disease and reconstruct hearing bones. Ask your ENT about referral to the best ossiculoplasty surgeon in kerala if ossicles are damaged.
Hearing rehabilitation: If infections have caused lasting hearing loss, evaluation by the best Doctor For Hearing Loss can determine if modern hearing aids are suitable. Severe inner ear loss may need assessment at a leading Cochlear implantation hospital kerala.

Home care do’s and don’ts

Keep the ear dry while bathing. Use a cotton ball coated lightly with petroleum jelly at the outer opening
Do not insert cotton buds, hairpins or oils into the ear
Do not swim until your ENT confirms healing
Use prescribed drops exactly as directed and complete the course
Return for follow up if fluid discharge from ear has not stopped by the date your doctor advised

Why choose Ascent Hospital for ear problems

Ascent ENT Hospital Kerala is widely recognised as the best ENT Hospital in Kerala. The hospital offers 24x7 ENT emergency care, comprehensive ear nose throat services, advanced diagnostic imaging and day care ENT surgeries. Patients can visit Ascent Hospital Calicut or Ascent Hospital Palakkad for convenient access. If you are looking for an ENT clinic in Kerala or the Best ENT Clinic, our experienced ENT specialist and ENT Doctor teams are ready to help.

Conclusion and next steps

Fluid discharge from the ear is a symptom you should never ignore. The colour, smell and timing offer clues, but only a careful ENT examination can confirm the diagnosis and guide the right treatment. If you are in Kerala and need dependable care, Ascent Hospital offers expert evaluation and treatment pathways from medical drops to advanced ear surgery and hearing rehabilitation.

For rapid relief and a personalised plan, contact the team today. Book an appointment at Ascent ENT Hospital Kerala or reach our care desk directly through the official contact page. Get in touch now and let our specialists help you stop fluid discharge from ear and protect your hearing.