Yellow Discharge From Ear: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

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Medical News TodaySubscribeWhat to know about yellow discharge from ears

Medically reviewed by Sirisha Yellayi, DO — Written by Jon Johnson on August 17, 2020

Causes
Diagnosis
Treatments
Home remedies
Prevention
When to see a doctor
Summary

Yellow discharge from the ear is often a sign of ear wax. The wax may have mixed with water and become more fluid before falling from the ear. In more severe cases, yellow discharge with blood may indicate a ruptured eardrum.

Ears often discharge ear wax to prevent dust, bacteria, and other foreign bodies getting inside the ear and is not usually a cause for concern.

However, some conditions may cause blood or other fluids to also drain from the ear. These symptoms can indicate injury or infection that may require medical attention.

Discharge lasting more than a few days, consisting of other fluids, or appearing along other symptoms may be a sign to see a doctor.

This article discusses the possible causes, symptoms, and treatments for yellow discharge from the ears.

Causes

A woman touches her ear after experiencing yellow discharge from ear. — Water in the ear, swimmer’s ear, trauma, middle ear infection, and a ruptured eardrum may cause yellow discharge.

Some possible causes of yellow discharge from the ears may include:

Water in the ear

Sometimes yellow discharge from the ear is simply a mixture of ear wax and liquids, such as water. Swimming, bathing, and showering all expose the ear to water. If water gets in the ear and mixes with ear wax, it may appear as yellowish discharge.

This itself may be unsightly but is not a cause for concern in most cases. However, pay attention to any other symptoms that may appear, and if the discharge lasts longer than a few days.

Find out how to get water out of the ears here.

Swimmer’s ear

Swimmer’s ear, also known as otitis externa, is a bacterial infection of the ear. It commonly occurs when there is extra water in the ear canal, allowing bacteria or fungi to build up and infect the canal.

As the name suggests, swimmer’s ear is associated with spending extended periods in the water. However, any source of bacteria multiplying in the ear can cause it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), swimmer’s ear most often develops in children, though it may affect anyone.

Other signs include:

muffled hearing
redness in the ear
itchiness in the ear
pain
fever

Learn more about swimmer’s ear here.

Trauma

Seattle Children’s Hospital note that trauma to the ear canal can leave the ear open to infections. Scraping the ear canal with fingernails may cause open wounds in the area. This may leave the canal more susceptible to infection.

Using other objects, such as toothpicks or cotton swabs, in the ear canal might also cause damage, leading to excessive discharge in the ear.

Signs of trauma include bleeding from the ear, pain, irritation, and hearing loss, or change in hearing.

Changes in pressure can also cause fluid to leak from the ear. Find out more.

Middle ear infections

A middle ear infection, or otitis media, may also cause discharge. The CDC indicate that middle ear infections are common, especially in younger children.

Some research indicates that middle ear infections are most common between the ages of 6–24 months.

The infections occur when viruses or bacteria multiply freely in the ear. Infections in the middle ear can cause fluid buildup behind the eardrum. If the fluid continues to build or there is too much pressure behind the eardrum, it may tear, leading to excessive discharge.

Other signs may include:

loss of balance
trouble hearing
ear pain
trouble sleeping
high fever
headache

Read this article for information on middle ear infections in adults.

Ruptured eardrum

Damage in the ear canal or eardrum may cause a ruptured ear drum. The eardrum is the thin membrane separating the outer ear canal and the middle ear.

Causes of a ruptured eardrum include:

inserting a foreign object into the ear, such as a toothpick or cotton swab
loud noises such as explosions or extreme feedback from speakers
pressure changes, such as from scuba diving or freediving
injuries and trauma to the head or ear
severe trauma such as a skull fracture

Find more information on a ruptured eardrum here.

Diagnosis

To accurately diagnose the underlying cause of yellow discharge from the ear, doctors will first do a physical examination. They may look for signs of damage to the outer ear and ear canal and check to see if the eardrum has ruptured.

If doctors notice any foreign objects in the ear, they may wash the ear canal to clear them or order further testing or other procedures to remove the object.

In some cases, doctors may take a sample of the discharge for testing to find the underlying cause, such as identifying the germ causing an infection.

Treatments

Treatments for the yellow discharge from the ear will vary according to the underlying condition causing the discharge.

In some cases, doctors may not recommend treatment. As the CDC note, doctors may not prescribe antibiotics for ear infections because the body’s immune system can fight off the infection on its own.

However, doctors may prescribe antibiotics for severe cases or cases lasting longer than 2–3 days.

Many cases of ear trauma also heal without medical intervention. In some extreme cases where a foreign object remains stuck in the ear, doctors may recommend surgery to remove the object.

A ruptured eardrum will also often heal without treatment within a few weeks to 2 months. If it does not improve, a person may require tympanoplasty, which is a surgical procedure to repair the hole.

Home remedies

While some treatments for yellow discharge from the ear require no medical treatment, some home remedies may provide some relief.

In general, getting rest and drinking extra water may help the body recover and repair itself. Over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also help ease pain and inflammation during healing.

Some OTC ear washes may also help remove wax or other debris from the ear to support healing. However, people should only use them under the doctor’s direct orders.

Prevention

While it may not be possible to prevent every cause of discharge from the ear, some tips may help protect the ear from damage, including:

avoiding inserting foreign objects, such as cotton swabs, pens, or hairpins, into the ear
thoroughly dry the ears after washing or swimming
allowing water to drain from the ears after bathing or swimming by tilting the head to each side
taking precautions to avoid pressure damage, such as when scuba diving or flying
wearing earplugs to muffle loud noises, such as heavy machinery or large speakers at concerts
using OTC ear drops to help clean the ears after swimming

When to see a doctor

Yellow discharge from the ear is usually not a cause for concern. However, anyone experiencing concerning symptoms should see their doctor.

Symptoms may include:

discharge that persists for more than a few days
discharge with signs of blood in it
streaks of white or yellow pus in the discharge
discharge with a foul odor
severe pain
other symptoms along with the discharge, such as fever and headache
hearing loss or changes in hearing
redness and swelling in the ear canal itself
discharge that occurs after an injury

Summary

In many cases, yellow ear discharge is simply a sign of excess earwax or wax that has mixed with water or sweat and fallen from the ear.

People who experience other symptoms along with yellow discharge, such as streaks of blood, hearing loss, or pain and inflammation, should see a doctor.

Ruptured eardrums and infections may cause excessive discharge and need treatment. Seeing a doctor for a full diagnosis can rule out serious issues and help prevent complications.

Ear, Nose, and Throat
Hearing / Deafness
Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Advice for patient’s having tympanoplasty. (2015).http://www.sthk.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/Documents/Tympanoplasty%20(New).pdf
Danishyar, A., & Ashurst, J. V. (2020). Acute otitis media. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470332/
Ear — discharge. (2018).https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/ear-discharge/
Ear infection. (2019).https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/for-patients/common-illnesses/ear-infection.html
Ear injury. (2020).https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/ear-injury/
Perforated eardrum. (2019).https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/perforated-eardrum-a-to-z
Swimming and ear infections. (2020).https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/swimmers/rwi/ear-infections.html

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Medically reviewed by Sirisha Yellayi, DO — Written by Jon Johnson on August 17, 2020

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