Q. What is a clear ear discharge?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
A clear ear discharge can be an indication of a variety of medical issues, both innocuous and serious. A wax-like substance known as cerumen, or earwax, is the most commonly identified clear ear discharge. It’s normal for small amounts of this wax to exit the ears as part of the body’s regular cleaning processes; however, if too much builds up it can cause discomfort and hearing loss.
More serious potential causes include swimmer's ear (otitis externa), a bacterial infection that leads to severe itching and pain in the outer ear canal; secretory otitis media (glue ear), where excess fluid builds up within inner parts of the middle ear; and chronic otitis media with effusion (COME), which may result in partial hearing loss. In addition, certain viral infections such as mumps can also lead to a clear step-wise progression from inflammation to infection leading to painful fluid buildup behind an eardrum. Generally speaking, any sudden change in colorless discharges should prompt further investigation by your primary care physician or local audiologist/ENT specialist.