Ear discharge is drainage of blood, ear wax, pus, or fluid from the ear
Most of the time, any fluid leaking out of an ear is ear wax.
A ruptured eardrum can cause a white, slightly bloody, or yellow discharge from the ear. Dry crusted material on a child’s pillow is often a sign of a ruptured eardrum. The eardrum may also bleed.
Causes of a ruptured eardrum include:
Foreign object in the ear canal
Injury from a blow to the head, foreign object, very loud noises, or sudden pressure changes (such as in airplanes)
Inserting cotton-tipped swabs or other small objects into the ear
Middle ear infection
Other causes of ear discharge include:
Eczema and other skin irritations in the ear canal
Swimmer's ear -- with symptoms such as itching, scaling, a red or moist ear canal, and pain that increases when you move the earlobe
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