Ear Draining
The Causes Of Ear Draining
Other than the secretion of ear wax, any ear draining should be a reason for concern. Any other drainage is called an otorrhea and this can be diagnosed by a doctor. He will examine the discharge by the smell and color and assess the pain level. He may also want to know what you were doing when the drainage and pain started.
There are many reasons why a person can experience ear draining. In most cases, the drainage can be cured by taking medications or using medical ear drops. But this can also be a symptom of a more serious condition.
Acute external otitis or swimmer's ear is an infection of the thin inner lining or the ear canal. This can happen when excess moisture is trapped in the ear. Cerumen is a waxy substance that is secreted in the ear canal and it protects the ears from water and bacteria. It also transports dirt and debris out of the ear canal and keeps the area clean. If a person constantly attempts to remove this substance by using Q tips or water, it can damage or weaken the cerumen. It no longer can protect the ear canal from bacteria, water or certain types of fungus. The symptoms or this type of ear draining includes, itching in the ear canal, drainage of fluid that has a bad smell, pus like drainage and muffled hearing. To avoid getting swimmer's ear, you should never insert a Q tip into the ear canal and keep the ears clean and dry.
A ruptured eardrum can cause ear draining. Children are most likely to have this condition. A young child may not understand that they should not put objects inside of the ear canal. They may complain about hearing loss or even pain but chances are the problem won't be found until the doctor does an exam. The ear drum also blocks bacteria from entering the middle ear canal. When the eardrum is ruptured, it allows the bacteria to enter the middle ear and this can cause an infection along with the rupture. The drainage seen in a ruptured eardrum can be clear or have pus like look or it can contain traces of blood. A doctor can treat a ruptured eardrum easily with antibiotics and a mild pain reliever.
Head injuries are extremely dangerous because they can damage the brain, cause convulsions and also cause ear draining. Anyone who has had a blow to the head and experiences bloody discharge from the ears should seek medical help. Blood that flows from the ear canal indicates a fractured skull. A fractured skull itself may not be cause for alarm but if the impact was that hard on the skull, the brain could have also been damaged. Bone fragments are another problem with severe blows to the head as well as partial disconnection of the cerebral arteries.
Certain allergies can cause ear draining, especially if mucus production is increased. If the allergy is acting on the sinuses the nasal passages can become blocked and the eyes, ears and throat can become itchy and irritated. Constant sneezing and congestion can put pressure on the inner ear and this can result in an infection. Ear draining that occurs from an allergy may be yellow to green in color and very foul smelling. These allergies are usually from pollution, animal dander or an allergic reaction to a product like hair spray or a cleaning chemical. Most allergies can be treated by using antihistamines or nasal decongestants. If an ear infection occurs through an allergy, a doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic.