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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Yellow Colored And Fishy Odored Discharge From Ear?

My 5.5 yr old daughter woke up and there was a yellow stain on her pillow and on her pajama top. It smelt really strongly like fish oil. The stain was quite big (about as big as a small plate). She is not complaining of a sore ear a d does not have a temp.
posted on Fri, 19 Jun 2015
Twitter Fri, 11 Sep 2020 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 14 Sep 2020 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,

Most common causes of foul smelling ears is infection. Smelly pus may be present with infections of either the external ear canal or middle ear. The discharge may be yellow to green according to the location of infections. Other reasons that may cause yellow coloured and fishy odoured discharge from ear are:
- Foreign bodies in the ear
- Allergic reaction and irritation by using of beauty and cleaning products like shampoos and creams
- Excessive earwax
- Abnormal growths in the ear such as cholesteatoma
- Abnormal ear growth behind eardrum
- Tumors and malignancies etc.

In case of infections, antibiotics are the treatment of choice. A swab from the affected ear will help to identify the causative organism for infection and the right antibiotics for that.

Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Zubayer Alam, General & Family Physician
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What Causes Yellow Colored And Fishy Odored Discharge From Ear?

Hi, Most common causes of foul smelling ears is infection. Smelly pus may be present with infections of either the external ear canal or middle ear. The discharge may be yellow to green according to the location of infections. Other reasons that may cause yellow coloured and fishy odoured discharge from ear are: - Foreign bodies in the ear - Allergic reaction and irritation by using of beauty and cleaning products like shampoos and creams - Excessive earwax - Abnormal growths in the ear such as cholesteatoma - Abnormal ear growth behind eardrum - Tumors and malignancies etc. In case of infections, antibiotics are the treatment of choice. A swab from the affected ear will help to identify the causative organism for infection and the right antibiotics for that. Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Zubayer Alam, General & Family Physician