# Ear Infection Question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 4, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ear-infection-question/675421 "2013-12-04T00:31:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TNWPsycho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/47e85d/32.png) [@TNWPsycho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TNWPsycho)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ear-infection-question/675421/1 "2013-12-04T00:31:27Z")
About two weeks ago i developed a cold, which lasted a few days. Then the cold seemingly went to my ear, and my ear began draining. Draining turned into a crusty deposit in the following days. In the past day my ear has now began secreting a mucus very similar to snot, and it smells terrible, much like rotten eggs. No pain is, or ever was in my ear, and the “infection” went away very quickly. My question is, what is going on with my ear now? ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ear-infection-question/675421/2 "2013-12-04T00:38:39Z")
There is still an infection. Could be serious. Go see a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ear-infection-question/675421/3 "2013-12-04T01:06:16Z")
stinky secretions are a good indication of an infection. it could cause damage. your ear is sick. take it to a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ear-infection-question/675421/4 "2013-12-04T02:05:01Z")
One possible explanation is that you have a hole in your ear drum which is allowing the pus from an ongoing middle ear infection to drain out. Sometimes that alone allows it to resolve but it sure does not sound like such is your case. Yes. Get your ear to your doctor. Ask if any particular ear drops might be effective. There are some (e.g. Floxin or Ciprodex) which are designed to treat middle ear infection through open holes (or tubes going through) tympanic membranes (ear drums). Maybe, _maybe_, you can avoid going on a by mouth med using one of those. Maybe not. See your doc. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ear-infection-question/675421/5 "2013-12-04T02:09:33Z")
**Moderator Action** Medical advice questions go in IMHO. Moving thread from General Questions to In My Humble Opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Artemis\_Tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Artemis\_Tardis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Artemis_Tardis)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ear-infection-question/675421/6 "2013-12-04T02:25:40Z")
Go see a doctor. Really. No pain does not mean no problems… ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ear-infection-question/675421/7 "2013-12-04T02:44:38Z")
I’ve had hundreds of ear infections in my life, and only 3 times have I had discharge from my ear - the three times my eardrum burst. Of course, it was unimaginably painful but still…ear discharge is not a good sign. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ear-infection-question/675421/8 "2013-12-04T05:17:39Z")
Draining smelly stuff almost certainly equals infection, and if it’s really a byproduct of the cold and thus coming out of your middle ear, your eardrum must have a hole in it. Don’t get hung up on the lack of pain–I let a pus-draining infection go once because there wasn’t any pain and it took 2 different antibiotics and 3 weeks to clear up. Go to the doctor ASAP.