Definition
Otorrhea consists of fluid loss from the ear. In most cases, it is an inflammatory exudate, serous, serosematic, mucosal or purulent, originating from the external auditory canal or middle ear.
Symptoms associated with otorrhea may include otalgia, fever, itching, dizziness, tinnitus, hearing loss and chewing pain.
The most frequent causes of otorrhea are otitis media (with perforation of the eardrum and / or cholesteatoma) and otitis externa (infectious or allergic). This manifestation can also appear following the penetration of foreign bodies, neoplastic processes or local trauma.
In some cases, the material that comes out of the ear is made up of cerebrospinal fluid ( otoliquorrea ), which comes from fistulas created as a result of serious fractures of the cranial base and the petrous rock.
If chronic (that is when it occurs for more than 6 weeks), the otorrhea may be the consequence of eczematoid or contact ear dermatitis, chronic purulent otitis media, cholesteatoma, ear canal cancer, mastoiditis, necrotizing external otitis and Wegener's granulomatosis.Possible Causes * of Otorrhea
- adenoiditis
- Contact allergy
- Respiratory allergies
- Dermatitis
- labyrinthitis
- Mastoiditis
- Ear infection
