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You may not notice the symptoms of an ear infection with discharge if you've had it for a long time. That's because it's less painful than a short-term infection. But it can cause more damage to your hearing. So it's important to watch out for the symptoms.

The main symptoms of ear infection with discharge are:¹

• Pus coming out of your ear
• Not hearing as well as you used to
• Ear pain or discomfort. This is usually mild. It may feel like pressure in your ear.

You may get symptoms in one or both ears. You might have non-stop ear discharge, or your symptoms may come and go.

If you get these symptoms, it's important to go to your doctor. He or she will examine you to check which type of condition you have. You'll probably need to have your ear cleaned by the doctor or nurse first, to remove any bits of skin or pus that are blocking your ear canal. To learn more about ear cleaning, see What treatments work for ear infection with discharge?

Then your doctor will want to examine your ear. He or she will shine a light into your ear and look down an instrument called an otoscope. This is to see whether your eardrum has a hole in it. Some doctors use a microscope to take a better look.

Your doctor will also ask you questions about your symptoms and how long they have been going on. This will help your doctor work out whether you have a long-term (chronic) infection or a short-term (acute) infection.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.