Definition

Noun: A medical term describing a discharge or fluid drainage from the external ear canal.

Usage

"Otorrhea" is a clinical term used primarily in medical contexts (e.g., by doctors, nurses, or in medical reports) to describe the symptom of fluid leaking from the ear. It indicates an underlying condition, such as an infection or injury.

Examples

• The patient presented with otorrhea and ear pain, suggesting a possible infection.
• Clear otorrhea following a head injury can be a sign of a cerebrospinal fluid leak.
• Chronic otorrhea is often associated with tympanic membrane perforation.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be modified by adjectives to specify the type of discharge (e.g., for pus, for clear fluid, ).
• It is a symptom, not a diagnosis itself. The cause of the otorrhea must be investigated.

Variants and Related Words

• Otic (adjective): Relating to the ear.
• Rhinorrhea (noun): Discharge from the nose.
• Otorrhagia (noun): Bleeding from the ear.

Synonyms

• Ear discharge
• Aural drainage

Antonyms

• There is no direct antonym, but the normal, healthy state would be a dry ear canal or the absence of discharge.

Notes

"Otorrhea" is a compound word from Greek roots: oto- (ear) + -rrhea (flow or discharge). It is a precise, formal term. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say "my ear is draining" or "I have drainage from my ear."

Noun

1. discharge from the external ear