A person with an ear discharge has fluid draining from the ear canal.

Earwax, or cerumen, is the most common substance that drains from the ear canal. However, blood, pus or clear fluid may also drain from the ear canal.

Causes of ear discharge include:

• Barotitis media
• Basilar skull fracture
• Cellulitis of the ear
• Cerumen impaction
• Cholesteatoma
• Ear foreign body
• Mastoiditis
• Otitis externa
• Otitis media