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Ear Discharge (Drainage)

Earwax: Ear wax protects the lining of the ear canal and has germ-killing properties.
- If the earwax is removed, the ear canals become itchy.
- Do not use cotton swabs (Q-tips) in your child's ear.
- Call doctor if earwax begins to look like pus (yellow or green discharge).
Clear Discharge (without head trauma): It's probably tears or water that entered the ear canal during a bath, shower, swimming or water fight.
- Don't overlook eardrops your child or someone else used without telling you.
- In children with ventilation tubes, some clear or slightly cloudy fluid can occur when a temporary tube blockage that opens up and drains.
- Call doctor if clear drainage lasts more than 24 hours or recurs.
Blood After Ear Exam: If your doctor had to remove ear wax in order to see the eardrum, about 10% of the time this causes a small scratch to the lining of the ear canal. Usually the scratch oozes 1 or 2 drops of blood and then clots.
- This should heal up completely in a few days.
- It shouldn't affect the hearing.
- Don't put anything in the ear canal because it will probably re-start the bleeding.
- Call doctor if bleeding continues or recurs.
Suspected Ear Infection: Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief until the office visit. See EARACHE for details.
IF your child becomes worse: Review Should I Call? recommendations.