Ear discharge's types, manifestation, and color difference

1. Ear Discharge

2. Types
• Wax (normal)
• Pus
• Mucus & mucopus
• Blood stained (in otitis media)
• Fresh blood (trauma)
• CSF (trauma)

3. Manifestation
 Causes:
• Otitis externa
• Otitis media
• Otomycosis (fungal otitis externa)
• Trauma
 Signs & symptoms:
• Ear pain (otalgia)
• Swollen ear
• Itchy ear or itching ear canal
• Vertigo
• Tinnitus

4. Otorrhea
• Purulent discharge indicates the presence of infection:
Onset of an acute infections (white), persistent (yellow or brown).
• Mucoid discharge indicates a perforation of the tympanic membrane.
• Bloody discharge may follow trauma or occur with granulation tissue associated
with chronic infection.
• Clear, watery fluid, especially when associated with a history of trauma or skull
base surgery, is likely to be CSF.
• A foul-smelling discharge is usually associated with cholesteatoma or a neoplasm.