Otorrhea

Aka: Otorrhea, Ear Drainage

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II. Definition

  1. Otorrhea is Ear Drainage

III. Causes

  1. Acute Otorrhea (6 weeks duration or less)
    1. Acute Otitis Media with Tympanic Membrane Perforation
    2. Otitis Externa
    3. Tympanostomy Tube placement complication
  2. Chronic Otorrhea (Lasting longer than 6 weeks duration)
    1. Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (most common)
    2. Cholesteatoma
    3. Ear Foreign Body
    4. Granuloma
    5. Immunodeficiency
    6. Neoplasm

IV. Discharge characteristics: Infectious Causes

  1. Otitis Externa
    1. Acute Bacterial Otitis Externa
      1. Scant white mucus (may be thick)
    2. Chronic Bacterial Otitis Externa
      1. Bloody discharge with granulation tissue
    3. Fungal Otitis Externa (Otomycosis)
      1. Fluffy discharge
      2. Color: white, black, gray, blue-green or yellow
  2. Otitis Media with perforated Tympanic Membrane
    1. Acute Otitis Media
      1. Purulent white to yellow mucus discharge
      2. Associated with deep pain
    2. Serous Otitis Media
      1. Clear mucus
      2. Associated with Allergic Rhinitis
    3. Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media
      1. Purulent mucus on intermittent drainage
      2. Not associated with pain
  3. Miscellaneous Causes
    1. Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: clear watery discharge
    2. Trauma: Bloody mucus
    3. Osteomyelitis: Foul ear discharge

V. References

  1. Sabella (2000) Pediatr Infect Dis J 19:1007-8 [PubMed]
  2. Shohet (1998) Postgrad Med 104:50-60 [PubMed]

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