Just earwax or something more severe?

Question

Last night my 17 month old's ear was leaking a brown fluid. It was her left ear and she wasn't acting like it was bothering her.

We tested and she was responding to noise.

I know sometimes ear wax will come to the outside of the ear (we use the infant Q-tips which only go in a short bit and keep you from going in too far). She also had been crying earlier that day and holding her head but she laid down and took a nap (this was at her babysitters house - she called me to tell me about the episode).

Is it anything to worry about?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Any drainage from the ear needs to be seen by a  doctor. It may just be an ear infection, but ear drums have been know to rupture and those leak.

Answer 2

I would have it checked out.  Better safe than sorry.  Continue to monitor your baby's behavior and check her temperature.  

Answer 3

You know what I would take her to see a doctor if you are not sure. Better to be safe then sorry is what I think when I had my kids.

Answer 4

Your baby's eardrum could have possibly ruptured.

Answer 5

awww poor baby, go see a doctor, you dont want to risk it being anything really bad and you think its okay because of something stupid someone tells you on yahoo answers....

Answer 6

Might be an infection.

Answer 7

It could quite possibly be an ear infection, or just built up wax. Had she been in water a day or two before? There is a magazine called One Step Ahead, I purchased a tool to look into my daughter's ears so I can kind of check them before calling the doctor. Great tool.

Does she have a fever?

Has it happened again?

If not then it may just have been wax.