Otorrhea is also known as ear discharge. It is any fluid that comes out of the ear.
Usually, the ears discharge earwax. It is an oil that the body naturally produces.
The earwax prevents dust, foreign bodies, bacteria, and other potentially harmful particles to enter the ear.
In cases of a rupture in the eardrum, blood or pus comes out of the ear. This occurs when the ear is injured and an infection has taken place.
Let’s discuss different aspects of otorrhea in detail.
Otorrhea Types
There are five types of otorrhea. Let’s take a look at them one by one.
1. Clear:
The ear discharge consists of clear fluid coming out of the ear.
2. Bloody:
Sometimes, the discharge from the ear consists of blood. This is mostly caused by an injury to the ear.
3. Serous:
This type of ear discharge is typically pale yellow or transparent and of benign(non-cancerous) nature.
4. Mucoid:
This type of ear discharge is like mucus coming out of the ear.
5. Purulent:
The ear discharge that contains pus is purulent. This occurs when there is infection or inflammation present in the ear.
Otorrhea Causes
Usually, it is the earwax that collects in the ear and creates its way out of it. In other cases, the cause of ear discharge is an injury or an infection.
Injury:
Trauma or injury to the ear canal also causes otorrhea.
This can occur while cleaning the ear with cotton swap harshly or pushing it too deep in the ear.
An increase in pressure such as in airplanes or scuba diving can also cause injury to the ear.
This can result in a rupture or tear in the eardrum.
Extremely loud noise also causes trauma to the ears. It can also cause a rupture of the eardrum.
Middle ear infection:
A middle ear infection also known as otitis media is a very common cause of discharge from the ear.
It occurs when bacteria or viruses enter the middle ear. The middle ear is situated behind the eardrum.
It contains three small bones which are very vital for hearing. Infection in the middle ear causes fluid buildup behind the eardrum.
This fluid comes out of the ear as ear discharge.
Swimming:
Swimmer’s ear or otitis externa occurs when bacteria or virus infects the ear canal while swimming.
It occurs to those who spend long hours in the water. Excessive moisture can break down the skin in the ear canal.
Otitis externa i.e., swimmer’s ear is not restricted to those who swim but also occurs when there is excessive moisture in the ear.
This favors the growth of bacteria and fungus in the ear. Eczema or irritated skin can also cause a swimmer’s ear.
An untreated swimmer’s ear can result in malignant complications of the ear.
Otorrhea Symptoms
Let’s take a look at the symptoms of otorrhea.
Discharge:
Discharge of white, yellow or bloody fluid from the ear. There is drainage of fluid from the ear that can be white or yellow. Sometimes, the discharge may come out mixed with blood or pus.
Fever:
Ear discharge is associated with fever-like symptoms such as high temperature. An increase in the body temperature along with ear discharge should be treated under medical supervision.
Chronic discharge:
Ear discharge that stays more than five days. The discharge from the ear can occur for weeks or months.
Pain and swelling:
Pain in the ear, swelling and redness of the ear canal. Pain in the ear during any time of the day with associated swelling, redness and hotness of the ear canal.
Hearing loss:
Impaired hearing due to long-continued ear discharge. Sense of hearing becomes diminished.
Risk Factors for Otorrhea
There are certain risk factors associated with otorrhea that makes the patient more prone to getting affected by otorrhea.
Let’s take a look at the risk factors one by one.
Water exposure:
Water exposure can lead to infection in the canal and excessive moisture resulting in ear infections.
Harsh cleaning:
Using cotton buds aggressively and harshly can lead to damage to the eardrum and cause otorrhea.
Flying:
Injuries due to increased pressure (barotrauma) and perforation can occur leading to ear discharge.
Loud music:
Listening to loud music or too much usage of earphones, headphones and hearing aids can lead to ear damage and otorrhea.
Immune deficiency:
Immune deficiency can cause easy susceptibility to ear infections such as otitis media, otitis externa etc.
Diagnosis of Otorrhea
The doctor will take the symptoms and medical history in detail. He will ask about the symptoms, duration and associated symptoms.
Otoscope:
The ear canal is inspected with an otoscope. It will help to determine the character of discharge, presence of lesions in the ear canal and any foreign body in the ear canal.
Otorrhea Management
Ear discharge sometimes heals on its own. In some cases, where the ear discharge is worsening, surgery may be required.
Some management tips that should be followed for easy recovery of the condition are discussed here.
Don’t listen to loud music for long hours.
Avoid excessive use of headphones, earphones and other hearing aids.
Keep the ear dry, pat dry the ear after swimming or long baths.
Gently clean the ear, avoid harsh cleaning of the ear.
Don’t put sharp objects such as pencils or pens in the ear.
Take treatment early to avoid complications of otorrhea.
Best Homeopathic Medicines for Otorrhea
Homeopathy offers a quick, gentle, and rapid cure for patients of otorrhea i.e., ear discharge.
There are so many beneficial remedies in homeopathy that are capable of curing otorrhea patients completely.
These medicines can be given to infants, children, adults, and older age groups people. These are very safe to use and effective also.
Proper selection of the homeopathic medicines by matching the symptoms of the patient with the symptoms of the medicines is necessary for the cure to take place.
Let’s take a look at the top indicated remedies for otorrhea i.e., ear discharge in homeopathy one by one in detail.
1. KALI MUR: For otorrhea with swelling in the ear canal
Symptoms:
Kali Mur is one of the top-grade medicines for the treatment of otorrhea in homeopathy.
It is helpful for patients suffering from long-standing catarrhal infections of the middle ear.
There is swelling about the ear. The glands around the ear also get swelled up due to the ear infection.
One of the characteristic symptoms of the Kali Mur patient is that he hears noises and snapping in the ears.
There is threatening of complications of otorrhea. There is much discharge and effusion from the ear.
When these symptoms are present, Kali Mur is the best choice for treatment.
Potency and dosage:
Kali Mur 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Kali Mur 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Kali Mur in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
2. SILICEA: For otorrhea with pus discharge
Symptoms:
Silicea is a great remedy for complaints associated with pus discharge. Silicea can treat ear discharge where pus is present. The discharge from the ear is fetid and foul-smelling.
There is the formation of pus due to infection in the ear canal. Silicea is helpful for the treatment of carries of the mastoid bone.
The ears of the Silicea patient are sensitive to noise. The patient complains of roaring in the ears.
The symptoms get worse on lying down and washing. The symptoms are better by warmth and wrapping up the head.
When these symptoms are present, Silicea is the correct remedy to start treatment.
Potency and dosage:
Silicea 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Silicea 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Silicea in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
3. HEPAR SULPH: For otorrhea with a hardness of hearing
Symptoms:
Hepar sulph is a wonderful remedy for the treatment of otorrhea symptoms associated with pustules in the ear canal.
There are scurfs on and behind the ears. The patient complains of discharge of fetid pus from the ear.
There is whizzing and throbbing of the ear with a hardness of hearing.
The patient may develop deafness after a fever. There are pustules in the ear canal and the outer part of the ear.
Hepar sulph is a useful remedy for the treatment of mastoiditis i.e., inflammation of the mastoid bone in the ear.
Potency and dosage:
Hepar sulph 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Hepar sulph 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Hepar sulph in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
4. LEDUM PAL: For otorrhea due to injury by a sharp object
Symptoms:
Ledum pal is one of best remedy for the treatment of otorrhea caused by injury by a sharp object or instrument.
The ear is having punctured wound caused by a sharp-pointed object. This leads to infection and discharges from the ear.
There is a sharp pain and swelling in the ear along with itching. The symptoms of the Ledum pal patient become worse at the night and from the heat of the bed.
These symptoms are the indications for using Ledum pal for otorrhea.
Potency and dosage:
Ledum pal1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Ledum pal 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Ledum pal in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
5. TELLURIUM MET: For otorrhea with acrid discharge
Symptoms:
Tellurium met is a very useful remedy for the treatment of otorrhea caused by infection.
The characteristic feature of this remedy is that there is itching with swelling along with the ear discharge.
The patient complains of acrid discharge from the ear. This remedy can treat middle ear infections.
There is dry and irritated skin behind the ear. It is a good remedy for otorrhea with eczema of the ear.
The discharge from the ear smells like a fish pickle. There is itching, throbbing and swelling in the ear canal.
Tellurium met is a helpful remedy for otorrhea with deafness.
Potency and dosage:
Tellurium met 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Tellurium met 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Tellurium met in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
6. MERC SOL: For otorrhea with pain and bloody discharge
Symptoms:
Merc Sol is a very beneficial remedy for otorrhea with pain and thick yellow and bloody discharge.
The discharge from the ear is fetid and foul-smelling. There is intense pain in the ears which gets worse due to the warmth of the bed at night.
The patient experiences sticking pains in the ears. It is a useful remedy for otorrhea with boils in the external ear.
Merc Sol can treat otorrhea caused by infection where pus, blood and fluid are mixed and comes out of the ear.
The infection causes pain and redness in the ear canal. When these symptoms match Merc Sol is the most suitable choice.
Potency and dosage:
Merc Sol 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Merc Sol 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Merc Sol in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
7. PULSATILLA: For otorrhea with thick bland discharge
Symptoms:
Pulsatilla is one of the top-grade remedies for otorrhea in homeopathy.
There is a thick and profuse discharge of fluid from the ear. The discharge from the ear is bland.
The patient complains of itching and burning in the ears. There is a sensation as if something were forced outwards from the ear.
The patient experiences hearing difficulties as if the ears are stuffed.
The discharge from the ear is offensive. The external ear appears swollen and red.
Pain in the ears becomes worse at night. There is diminished acuteness of hearing.
Potency and dosage:
Pulsatilla 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Pulsatilla 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Pulsatilla in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
8. CHENOPODIUM: For otorrhea with deafness
Symptoms:
Chenopodium is a wonderful homeopathic remedy for the treatment of otorrhea with deafness.
It can treat disturbances in the auditory nerve. The patient better hears the high-pitched sounds.
There is comparative deafness to the sound of the voice but there is great sensitiveness to the sound, for example of passing vehicles.
The patient complains of buzzing in the ear with ear discharge. Sometimes, the patient experiences dizziness due to disturbances in the ear canal.
Potency and dosage:
Chenopodium 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Chenopodium 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Chenopodium in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
9. PSORINUM: For otorrhea with most fetid pus from the ear
Symptoms:
Psorimum is a very useful remedy for the treatment of chronic otorrhea. There are raw, red oozing scabs around the ears.
The patient experiences sore pain behind the ears. There is an offensive discharge from eczema around the ear.
There is intolerable itching in the ear. Psorimun is a great remedy to treat chronic long-standing ear discharge.
There is a discharge of most fetid pus from the ears. The discharge is brownish and offensive.
Potency and dosage:
Psorinum 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Psorinum 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Psorinum in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
10. KALI SULPH: For otorrhea with a discharge of yellow matter
Symptoms:
Kali sulph is a well-known homeopathic remedy for the treatment of ear discharge.
The discharge from the ear is caused by an infection in the ear canal, mostly the eustachian tube ( a tube-like structure in the ear canal).
This causes impaired hearing and deafness. The patient complains of ear discharge of yellow matter.
The symptoms of a Kal sulph patient are worse in the evening and in a heated room.
The symptoms of a Kali sulph patient are better in the cool and open air.
Potency and dosage:
Kali sulph 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Kali sulph 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Kali sulph in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
Remember that homeopathic remedies are prescribed based on individual symptoms and characteristics. It’s crucial to consult with a qualified homeopath for proper evaluation and personalized treatment. Homeopathy focuses on treating the whole person, so a detailed case study is necessary to select the most appropriate remedy.
Homeopathic medicines should be taken only when prescribed by a homeopathic physician. Self-medication may aggravate the original conditions.