Otorrhoea: The discharging ear

Abstract

Otorrhoea - discharge from the external auditory meatus – is a common presenting symptom in primary care in both children and adults. It may indicate infection or inflammation of the external or middle ear and is often accompanied by pain or hearing loss. Otorrhoea can be worrying and distressing for patients, and can impact school or work attendance. Both ear pain and discharge feature prominently within the clinical topic guide for ear nose and throat in the GP curriculum and commonly appears as a question in the Applied Knowledge Test examination. This article will review the most common causes of otorrhoea, how they may be differentiated, and their management.