Chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness on one side, a fit or heavy bleeding needs help now, not an appointment.

112Any emergency108Ambulance102Pregnancy and newborn
Check a symptomManage a conditionHealth calculatorsUnderstand a lab reportFirst aid
Eyes, ear, nose and throat

Ear pain or discharge

Also called ear pain, ear discharge, kaan dard, kaan me dard, ear infection

What it meansSafe at homeDo not doSee a doctorWarning signs

What this means

Ear pain or discharge is often caused by an ear infection, common in both children and adults, especially after a cold.

Safe to do at home

  • Keep the ear dry and avoid water entering it
  • Use a warm compress over the ear for comfort
  • Rest and stay hydrated

Please do not do this alone

  • Do not put oil, cotton buds or any object into the ear
  • Do not use ear drops without a doctor, especially if there is discharge
  • Do not ignore pain with fever in a child

Book a consultation if

  • Pain or discharge lasts more than a day or two
  • There is reduced hearing or repeated infections
  • A child is pulling at the ear with fever

Get help immediately if

  • Severe ear pain with high fever, neck stiffness or swelling behind the ear
  • Sudden hearing loss with dizziness
  • Bleeding from the ear after an injury

The right doctor for this

ENT Specialist

This is the specialist who sees this symptom most often and can examine you properly. If you are not sure, a general physician is always a safe place to start and will refer you onward if you need it.

Consult a ENT SpecialistStart with a General Physician

Get care for this

Doctors and care for ear pain or discharge

Verified Teleprac doctors you can see online or in a clinic, lab tests with home sample collection, and genuine medicines delivered to your door.

Shop Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat CareDelivered home. Please take medicines only as your doctor advises.
See all symptoms

How to use this page. It explains what a symptom usually means, so that you can decide whether to watch it, book a consultation or get help now. It does not diagnose you, it does not know your age, your pregnancy or your other medicines, and it cannot replace being examined. Please do not start, stop or change any medicine on your own.

Consult a doctorENT Specialist

More free tools in the Health Hub

Open Health Hub
Manage a conditionYou live with diabetes, blood pressure, thyroid, asthma or something similarHealth calculatorsYou have a number, such as weight, waist or blood pressure, and want to know what it meansUnderstand a lab reportYou have a lab report with sugar, thyroid, cholesterol or blood counts and want to know what it meansFirst aidSomething has just happened to someone and you need to know what to do right now

Emergency numbers in India

Save these in your phone now, not when you need them. Tap any number to call it.

112Any emergencyOne number for police, fire and ambulance across India108AmbulanceFree emergency ambulance in most states and union territories102Pregnancy and newbornAmbulance for mothers and babies in most states14416Mental health supportTele MANAS, free counselling every hour of the day, many languages1800 116 117Poisoning or overdoseNational Poisons Information Centre, AIIMS New Delhi1098Child in distressChildline India, free and confidential

Where to read more

Public health sources written for patients rather than for doctors, and kept up to date.

Ministry of Health and Family WelfareOfficial Indian health programmes, advisories and public guidanceWorld Health Organization health topicsGlobal fact sheets written for the public, on hundreds of topicsNHS health A to ZPlain language pages on symptoms, conditions, tests and treatmentsMedlinePlusPatient information from the United States National Library of MedicineTele MANASIndia's national mental health support service, free and available all day

Important: Everything in Teleprac patient resources is general health education. It does not give you a diagnosis and it cannot replace examination by a qualified doctor, because it does not know your age, your reports, your pregnancy or the other medicines you take. Please do not start, stop or change any medicine on your own. Teleprac Healthcare is not liable for decisions made on the basis of this information. In an emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest hospital immediately.