Is this your symptom?
- Drainage of pus or fluid from the ear canal
- Drainage through an ear tube is also covered
Types of Ear Discharge
- Pus or Cloudy Fluid is the most common type of ear discharge. The main cause is a middle ear infection. The drainage comes through a torn eardrum. The eardrum ruptures in about 10% of bacterial ear infections. It often heals itself after the infection and drainage have settled. Sometimes a small hole remains.
- Otitis Externa is another common cause of discharge from infection in the ear canal, including swimmer's ear.
- Ear Tube Fluid Release. People with frequent ear infections may get ventilation tubes (ear tubes) put in. These help the middle ear drain its fluids and become dry. Sometimes, the ear tube gets plugged. Normal fluids build up in the middle ear until the ear tube opens up again. This can cause some clear fluid drainage from the ear canal for a day.
- Earwax is light brown, dark brown, or orange brown in color. If it gets wet, it can look like a discharge.
- Blood may follow an injury to the ear. Usually, it's just a minor scratch of the lining of the ear canal.
- Water. Bath or shower water can get in the ear canal. If you see a clear "discharge" that happens once, it is likely this.
- Swimmer's Ear Discharge. Early symptoms are an itchy ear canal. Later symptoms include a whitish, watery discharge. Mainly occurs in swimmers and in the summer time.
- Ear Canal Foreign Object. Small objects sometimes get put into the ear canal. It can cause a mild infection and pus-colored discharge. If the object was sharp, the discharge may have streaks of blood.
When to Call for Ear Discharge
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
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Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
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Self Care at Home
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Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Pink or red swelling behind the ear
- Severe ear pain
- Clear or bloody fluid draining from the ear after a head injury
- Bleeding from the ear canal. Exception: few drops and after an ear exam.
- Fever or chills; feeling hot or shivery
- You feel weak or very sick
- You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Discharge is yellow or green, cloudy white or smells bad
- You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Normal earwax or other harmless discharge
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
