Question
Recently, when I clean my baby’s ears with cotton swabs after bath time, there is sometimes yellow liquid draining out. However, it clears up after I wipe it with a tissue. Sometimes there’s yellow liquid, and sometimes there isn’t. I don’t understand what’s causing this. What kind of help do I need: to understand what causes yellow liquid to drain from the ear?
Answer
The appearance of yellow liquid in the ear may be due to otitis media. The most common cause is viral infections in the upper respiratory tract, such as colds or flu-induced nasal congestion. Excessive force when blowing the nose can also lead to otitis media. Swimming with improper technique that causes the eustachian tube to open can allow bacteria into the middle ear, leading to otitis media. Infants have certain physiological characteristics that make it easier for milk to enter the middle ear through the eustachian tube during breastfeeding, especially if the breastfeeding position is incorrect, such as holding the baby horizontally or lying down while nursing from a bottle. Otitis media is a common cause of ear pain in children, typically occurring in children under 8 years old and often resulting from pain complications associated with upper respiratory tract infections such as colds or throat infections. Therefore, it is important for the patient to undergo a thorough examination by an ear, nose, and throat specialist and receive appropriate treatment.