If fluid is leaking from your ear. What does it mean if clear liquid flows from your ear? Medicines for the treatment of diseases

What to do if clear fluid is leaking from your ear? Discharge from the ear is always alarming, since this symptom is completely uncharacteristic of of this body. Doctors call the flow of clear fluid from the ears otorrhea. This is not a disease, but a sign of disease in the body. To determine the exact cause, a doctor's examination is necessary.

Causes of otorrhea

In order to determine the treatment method, it is necessary to establish why fluid is secreted in the ear. Factors provoking this symptom, are different:

• Complications of external and otitis media. This is a disease characterized by an inflammatory process in the cavity of the outer or middle ear, respectively. The main symptom is severe ear pain. With proper treatment, discharge from the ears is not typical for otitis, but if measures are not taken in time, pus accumulates in the cavity behind the eardrum. He puts pressure on the membrane until it breaks and releases the accumulation of pus out. Since the pressure on the membrane stops, you can hear from the patient that “his ear is leaking, but it doesn’t hurt.” Recession pain does not replace the need for specialist consultation and treatment. Purulent otitis media dangerous for meningitis, encephalitis and mastoiditis.
• Inflammation of the middle ear, which is of an allergic nature. This condition easily treated with antihistamines. The fact that the ear does not hurt makes some patients put off going to the doctor. This is a big mistake, since, firstly, only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis, and secondly, he will select the optimal treatment method that will relieve symptoms in the shortest possible time.
• Mastoiditis, or inflammation mastoid process temporal bone. The disease is not a pleasant one, but it can be prevented by timely and adequate treatment of otitis media. With mastoiditis, the discharge can be purulent in nature (in this case we speak of purulent mastoiditis) or yellowish, resulting from swelling.
• Fracture of the skull bones. This injury may damage the hard meninges. Then it comes out from the nose and ears cerebrospinal fluid– colorless and odorless. Of course, medical attention is required immediately to avoid death.
• Cyst-like cholesteatoma is diagnosed in the case of epithelial growth in the middle ear. The neoplasm cells secrete a yellowish secretion with unpleasant smell, which flows from the ear. An urgent visit to an otolaryngologist will reduce the risk of irreparable consequences, which include death.
• Furunculosis, or accumulation of foci of inflammation sebaceous gland, is comparatively harmless reason discharge of pus from the ear. When pathogenic bacteria enter ear canal Inflammation may occur in the form of a pimple, in the center of which there is a sac with purulent contents. It is this that flows out of the ear at the stage of tissue necrosis. At any stage of development of furunculosis, the pathology requires treatment.
• Otomycosis. In other words, this is ear fungus, which occurs as a result of the proliferation of the fungus against the background of weakened body resistance (often the result of excessive efforts when cleaning the ears from wax). The ear does not hurt, but it itches and is very sensitive. The disease may be accompanied by scanty brown or black discharge from the ear.

Therapeutic measures

Since the fluid flowing from the ear is not a disease, but a symptom of it, therapy will be aimed at curing the disease that caused this symptom:

In this case, the discharge should be collected with a cotton swab moistened with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide.

What not to do

If it is leaking from the ear, the most the right decision There will be an immediate visit to an otolaryngologist. Only a specialist will be able to establish the exact cause of the symptom, prescribe adequate treatment and monitor the process to avoid complications. However, if going to the doctor is impossible for some reason, you should know what actions are prohibited when fluid is flowing from the ear.

• Refrain from any kind of heating: compresses, herbal candles, physiotherapy. Subject to availability inflammatory process the situation will get worse.
• Don't rush to try the products on yourself traditional medicine. Widely Recommended traditional healers citrus juices, onions and radishes can cause severe pain during perforation eardrum, or, worse, cause damage to the auditory nerve.
• It is strongly recommended not to rely on the recommendations of a pharmacist from your local pharmacy! Prescription of drugs for drug treatment- the prerogative of the otolaryngologist exclusively. He will make a decision based on an examination, a survey, and, possibly, after conducting tests.
• Under no circumstances should fluid flow from the ear be obstructed. On the contrary, purification auricle from accumulated secretions - this is the first action after detecting a symptom. The procedure should be performed carefully, maintaining sterility and not penetrating deep into the ear canal.
• Refrain from bath procedures: Getting water into the ear is undesirable for some diseases.

Fluid in the ears is a phenomenon that should be alarming. This symptom is a good reason to visit an otolaryngologist. There can be many reasons for clear fluid leaking from the ear, and treatments vary depending on the specific condition. By neglecting the health of your ears, you endanger not only your ability to hear, but also your life, since this organ is located in close proximity to the brain.

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The fluid that flows from the ear is not a specific disease, rather it is an indicator of one or another abnormality. The symptom covers a huge area various pathologies, related to each other by a common clinical picture.

• Infectious infections - occur against the background of influenza-related illnesses, hypothermia and other respiratory diseases. Similar deviations may be observed with intense harmful influence tobacco products. Moving to acute form, infections are accompanied elevated temperature, decreased hearing acuity. Not delivered on time medical care may cause complete loss of the ability to perceive sound.
• Otitis is a disease that has several types (external, medial, purulent, bacterial and others). Otitis externa occurs due to stagnation of water in ear canal. A person who has microtraumas in the cavity of the hearing organs may become ill as a result of bacteria entering the skin. Similar damage can be caused by incorrect hygiene procedures(using excessive force or using improvised means), strong blows and cosmetic problems (psoriasis, dermatitis). This form of otitis is accompanied by redness, itching, and pain in the hearing organs. In addition, hearing decreases and, without proper treatment, causes difficult-to-treat complications.
• Otitis media of the middle type affects the membrane area, and you can observe how the ear is leaking. The discharge is usually purulent, due to the etiology infectious disease. The course of otitis media can be acute (with sharp increase temperature) and lethargic (with a temporary cessation of symptoms). A deviation of this nature may affect vestibular apparatus, thereby providing negative impact to general equilibrium. Lack of treatment leads to damage to the ear bones and brain.
• – advanced form of otitis media. The patient can observe how pus flows from the ear, the skin of the shells turns red, peeling and itching appear. In addition, the temperature rises and swelling occurs. Children under 1 year of age are more at risk of getting sick due to undeveloped eustachian tube. There is a risk of complications - the development of sepsis, abscesses, and death.
• Cyst-like cholesteatoma is the proliferation of damaged epithelial tissue. When the ear flows, a sharp sound is heard, bad smell. Worried constant pain, possible total loss hearing, and without qualified help - death.
• Purulent boils are a disease that occurs due to microbial exposure to the ear. It is more often observed in people with a hereditary predisposition. Furunculosis, among all diseases, appears to be less dangerous.
• Allergic manifestations and mechanical injuries– integral factors leading to the manifestation of similar symptoms (including head injuries).

The discharge may be clear or yellow (white). Colorless discharge is a sign of allergies or the first stages of otitis, colored discharge is a sign of infection or bacterial damage.

Fluid in the inner ear: endolymph and perilymph

The inner ear contains two types of fluid, endolymph and perilymph, which are involved in hearing and balance functions. Overproduction of the first or leakage of the second result when various symptoms, including temporary deafness and dizziness. It consists of a bony labyrinth, a set of channels dug into temporary bone, with a fluid called perilymph, which is found in the perilymph and contains a fluid, endolymph. The composition of these two fluids is different: perilymph is close to that of the fluid in which the brain and endolymph baths are very specific: it contains small quantity sodium and a lot of potassium. This difference in composition is necessary for the proper functioning of the sensory cells present in the inner ear, both in its hearing and balancing functions.

Treatment

Independent procedures for removing formations, squeezing out or blocking secretions are strictly prohibited. Warming up can lead to even greater complications. For effective treatment it is necessary to be diagnosed by an otolaryngologist.

Depending on the ailment that caused the leakage from the ear, appropriate treatment is prescribed. This may include:

• reception antibacterial drugs to relieve inflammation (Suprax, Cefuroxime axetil, Levofloxacin), drops – Otofa, Otipax, Normax;
• cleaning the ear opening and disinfecting it using special solutions and sprays;
• physiotherapeutic procedures - phototherapy (ultraviolet), UHF and other heating;
• surgical interventions, with advanced stages otitis or cholesteatoma.

Traditional medicine

After additional consultation with a doctor, you can use aloe juice and propolis tincture for instillation. You can drink a decoction of mint and bury it in the ear opening, plantain juice will do, and in some cases honey.

Conclusion

Self-treatment, even with initial symptoms, can cause serious deviations. You should not trust untested methods and advice from unqualified specialists. To prevent the disease, if symptoms are detected, contact an ENT specialist, keep your ears clean, take all prescribed medications (in the absence of contraindications or worsening of the clinical picture).