Transparent water flows from the ears

The ear is one of the most important parts of the human body. There are many diseases that may occur in the ear, such as the most common one, otitis media, or other diseases such as tinnitus. Then they all need timely treatment, but the treatment can be based on each person's specific physical condition. Then the phenomenon of water discharge from the ears should be a manifestation of otitis media, and of course it is necessary to understand the cause. So what is the reason for clear water flowing out of the ears?

Under normal circumstances, except for some epithelial exfoliation and a small amount of dry earwax, the external auditory canal of most people is always clean. If you find that there is abnormal fluid accumulation or outflow in the external auditory canal, it is medically known as "otorrhea", which is what we often call ear discharge. It is a common symptom of ear disease. The most common disease causing otorrhea is chronic suppurative otitis media, and the nature of the otorrhea can range from watery to thick and foul-smelling. Some patients have continuous otorrhea, while others have occasional otorrhea. Otorrhea can come from different parts of the external auditory canal, the middle ear, and the tissues surrounding the middle ear.

Classification of ear discharge (otorrhea)

Greaseous otorrhea: Due to excessive secretion of the cerumen glands in the external auditory canal, it is mostly yellowish brown or light yellow viscous oily, generally odorless, commonly known as oily ears.

Purulent otorrhea: It is a manifestation of purulent inflammation, common in acute and chronic purulent otitis media, otitis externa, furunculosis, etc. In addition, rare cases of suppurative mumps, suppurative cervical lymphadenitis, etc. may also cause purulent otorrhea when the tube ruptures into the external auditory canal. If the pus is not large but has a foul odor, the possibility of cholesteatoma should be considered.

Bloody otorrhea: Mostly related to trauma, bullous myringitis, ear trauma, and some otitis media may also be considered, but be alert to hemangioma or middle ear cancer. Especially in the case of middle ear cancer, if there is blood in the pus, the pus has a foul odor, or there is severe ear pain or headache, it is a bad sign. Suspicious tissues in the external auditory canal or middle ear should be taken for pathological examination to determine the diagnosis and treatment measures.

Watery otorrhea: It often occurs in craniocerebral trauma, skull base fracture, tympanic membrane rupture, and clear water-like liquid slowly flows out of the external auditory canal, often mixed with blood. This is a characteristic of cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea, which requires special attention because it may cause meningitis.

Serum otorrhea: a yellowish, transparent, thin liquid, which is mostly secretions from the serous glands of the middle ear mucosa or serum leaking from blood vessels. It can be seen in the early aspiration fluid of secretory otitis media and the overflow after tympanostomy tube placement, or in the recovery period of otitis media. If the amount of fluid of this nature is large and continues to overflow, it is mostly allergic otitis media.