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What Causes Clear Liquid Discharge From Ears?
Question: I need to know what would cause a clear liquid to come out of your ear?
Brief Answer:
Cerebrospinal fluid leak... Inflammation of middle ear and external ear...
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for posting the query
The commonest causes of watery ear discharge are:
1. Acute infection in the middle ear with a perforated ear drum.
2. Inflammation of the skin of the external auditory canal.
The uncommon causes include, cerebrospinal fluid leak (the fluid suspending the brain). When there is trauma to the temporal bone with associated fracture, the cerebrospinal fluid leaks through the damaged portion. This is a serious condition which requires immediate intervention.
As your brother-in-law had met with an accident before, I would suspect a leak of the cerebrospinal fluid. Hence, it would be wiser to consult an apt ENT specialist at the earliest. He may order for a High resolution CT scan of the temporal bone with MRI of the brain.
Hope this answers your query; revert back to me if you have any follow-up queries.
Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon
Cerebrospinal fluid leak... Inflammation of middle ear and external ear...
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for posting the query
The commonest causes of watery ear discharge are:
1. Acute infection in the middle ear with a perforated ear drum.
2. Inflammation of the skin of the external auditory canal.
The uncommon causes include, cerebrospinal fluid leak (the fluid suspending the brain). When there is trauma to the temporal bone with associated fracture, the cerebrospinal fluid leaks through the damaged portion. This is a serious condition which requires immediate intervention.
As your brother-in-law had met with an accident before, I would suspect a leak of the cerebrospinal fluid. Hence, it would be wiser to consult an apt ENT specialist at the earliest. He may order for a High resolution CT scan of the temporal bone with MRI of the brain.
Hope this answers your query; revert back to me if you have any follow-up queries.
Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty
Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist
Practicing since :2001
Answered : 2540 Questions
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