Ear Drainage in Adults

Ear discharge or drainage is one of the common pediatric problems. It is known as otorrhea in medical terms and is often the result of some infection. Ear drainage is quite common in infants and children, however, this condition may affect adults too.

What is Ear Drainage?
Ear drainage or ottorhea is a condition when fluid drains out of the ear canal. Generally, it is the fluid that builds up behind the eardrum due to an infection of the ear. However, ear drainage also refers to blood or puss draining out from the ear. Abrasion or some kind of an injury to the ear canal wall may be the reason of blood exiting the ear. The ear drainage in adults can have three different diagnosis - purulent ottorhea, non-purulent ottorhea and bloody otorrhea.

Purulent Ottorhea - Conditions like acute suppurative otits media, chronic suppurative otitis media and malignant otitis.
Non-Purrulent Ottorhea - Conditions like swimmer's ear, invasive otitis externa, CNS fluid leakage.
Bloody Otorrhea - It is the result of trauma to the ear canal, middle ear or infection by a foreign body.

What Causes Ear Drainage in Adults
Ear drainage can be caused by several reasons. One can determine the cause of ear drainage by observing the color, consistency and smell of the fluid exiting the ear. The ear canal is a long tube about 26 millimeters that runs from the outer ear to the eardrum. Eardrums, also known as tympanic membranes, are thin and flexible, and aid in hearing. They protect the ear from earwax, fluid and debris. However, some fluid may get trapped behind the eardrum when suffering from cold, flu, sinus infection or allergy attacks. The fluid which gets saturated behind the eardrum may contain certain bacteria which may cause ear infections. This in turn can cause the eardrum to rupture, and lead to drainage of the smelly fluid.

Ear infection is one of the main causes of ear drainage. It can be a very painful and uncomfortable condition. The ear ache is severe and intensifies when you press behind the ear. The fluid that drains out from the ear due to an infection is foul-smelling and can be chunky and thick, or sticky and thin, depending on the type of infection. Ear discharge that is white or yellow in color and accompanied by headache and fever is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. In some cases, trauma or injury may also be the cause of rupture of the ear membrane causing ear drainage. The fluid that exits the ear in the absence of any infection is slightly bloody and clear. Ruptured membranes may also lead to sudden loss of hearing.

Another cause of ear drainage in adults is the growth of tumors behind the eardrum. These tumors grow and eventually rupture, causing a reddish or yellow colored fluid drainage from the ear. According to the National Institutes of Health, earwax is the most common fluid exiting the ear. The earwax produced in some people is wet and sticky unlike the commonly produced dry and flaky earwax. The thin liquid like earwax drains out from the ears during jaw motion like chewing or talking. This drainage is yellowish brown in color and is sticky in appearance.

This was all about ear drainage in adults. So, if you find a foul-smelling liquid draining from your ear, get it treated immediately.