Is This Normal for Ear Tubes?

Yes, it is normal. My eight year old son had tubes when he was a toddler and my three year old daughter has had two sets of tubes already. The tubes keep the infection from staying inside. The tubes are working just like your ENT told you. Every time your child has an infection there will be drainage comimg out of his ear and yes it does stink. I went through a horrible time with my daughter so I know all about tubes and ear infections. She has had yeast infections in the ear, staff infections, strep in the ear. Possibly any type of unheard of infection that you can possibly have she has had. She has had infections and cultures come back that not even the ENT had heard about and she would have to see a different type of specialist every time. Just be happy that it is draining out and not staying in.

The same happened to my son and the doctor said the same. He said that prior to tubes, the fluid stayed in his ear and got infected. The fluid draining means the stuff is getting out! It's been two years and happens less frequently, but still occasionally.

C.,

My son had tubes 3 times when he was younger. Anytime he had so much drainage it was ususally infected. It seems odd to me that your Ear Nose Throat doctor was not concerned. Especially if it has a terrible smell. Alex did this and every time he did it was an infection. You may want to check with your pediatrician.

L.

Yes, My daughter who was born on 4/19/07, had ear tubes placed in her ears in February as well and the doctor is correct, the tubes allow the ears to drain instead of the fluid being built up in the middle ear. I know it is yucky but they feel much better with their ears draining. The ear drps really do work wonders. I have had to use it a few times since her procedure and finally her ears are clear.

Good luck!

Ally

Although its scary, this is ABSOLUTELY normal. The others who have commented before me are right - this is precisely why he needed the tubes. They do not prevent infection, but they do allow the infected fluid to drain. The yucky drainage may go away and come back, and it may change in odor or consistency or color, but its normal for his ears to drain with working tubes.

yes, this is normal. just think of all that inside without
the tubes! Most children grow out of this due to the shape
of the ear, but not always as in the case of my son, first born,
had tubes x3 and his adnoids taken out at age 2,3 and almost 5
did great and he is now 23yrs old.
good luck to you, B., in NC.

My ears ran constantly as a child. Sometimes they still do. My doctor assured me that this was normal for some people. Another way for the body to cleanse itself. At least it draining and he probably will not suffer from inner ear fluid retention that can cause problems with balance... Vertigo and the like.

Hi there! I don't have a lot to offer other than what has already been said, but my 11 month old daughter is going through this right now. She got tubes back in October, and she has had drainage a couple of times. The ENT told us to put the drops in her ears. The most recent time, though was at the beginning of this month, and even though we put drops in her ears for over a week, they still drained occasionally, so we took her to the doctor. He said she had an ear infection, but said only to keep putting the drops in. I thought it was weird, but the drainage is starting to go away again. Don't worry - like everyone said, the tubes are doing their job. Just be sure not to get water in his ears. Good luck!

my niece who is now 17 yrs old has always had a problem with her ears getting infected and running like your sons. this went on from the time she was 6 months old until about 6 months ago. she didn't have tubes put in her ears but we finally found a dr. who knew what to do to help her. her dr. said it was sinuses. everything was so congested and backed up it was coming out of her ears. she was sent to an ear nose and throat dr. who prescribed a med. to soften the wax in her ear so he could dig it out of her ear. she was legally deaf in her right ear. she was prescribed allegra, nasonex and astelin. she has to use these daily to keep everything running smoothly but so far no more ears running and no more pain. if your son has ear problems with a cold or head cold it never hurts to have this looked into.

Interested in advice you were given.

Hi C.,

Though my son's ear tubes actually kept him from getting ear infections, we didn't have any of the symptoms of drainage your son has had. I am sure the other mothers know more about this, since they experienced it first hand. However, I do want to ask you if you had him fitted for ear plugs? He should not ever get water in his ears. The ENT will fit him specifically for them.

Hope this helps!
D.

Hi C.,
Yes, this happened with my daughter after she got her tubes also. The first month or so seemed to be the worst, but then after that there would be times she would get a lot of drainage. It does look yucky and scary, but it is normal. Good luck to you and your son!!
J.

Thats what the tubes are supposed to do. Euatation tubes are not always long enough so tubes are put in to allow for drainage, However if they start to smell bad or look green or bloody, go back to your ENT as it may be infection, but the drainage is normal. Good Luck

that is the reason your son needed the tubes. he has a lot of drainage, that could not get out on its own, so the tubes are working great. make sure you use the drops the ent gave you, because if the tubes crust up with the discharge, it can build pressure in the ears and cause your son pain, or worse push the tubes out of place and they have to put new ones in.

I am going through the same thing but I am not sure that it has anything to do with the tubes in the ears. My son is 10 and had tubes put in 8 years ago. That said, I know he has since lost one and may not have the other. He has the same type drainage. His ears also have received the same "clean" bill of health even with this severe drainage.

The only thing I have found to help is to clean them very well after his shower and this has kept them clean for almost the entire day and night until the next shower. A warm shower helps loosen the drainage and it sometimes takes as many as 6 Q-tips (just around the areas you can see- NOT into the ear) to get all of this out.

If you find there is a cause and/or solution, I would love to know. At 10 years old this is hurting his self esteem.

Thanks!

Chasity, I have been told yes. That the tubes are there to allow danaige when the ears did not allow it before to prevent infecetions. My son's tubes did not do that but my counsin's little girl's tubes did and a child in my class had tubes that drained. I ask my son's doctor about that and he said yes some do. I thought it was odd too. M.

My daughter has had ear tubes since August and we only had yellow discharge once. When we did, I took her to the pediatrician and she said that this was an ear infection. She told me that tubes drain the infected fluid out of the ear and that this was the purpose of the tubes. This has only happened once. I would suggest that you check with your child's pediatrician or go to see a different ENT.

Yes, this is completely normal. This is why you had the ear tubes put in--the stuff was there before but had no where to go. My daughter used to wake up with dried gunk all down her earlobes and her neck. Over time it got better and then completely stopped.

Don't worry, trust your ENT--he's seen it all (and more) before, keep using the drops, but most of all DON'T WORRY!!

C.:

This is very normal for ear tubes. The same thing happened to my son. The ENT is right, when they don't drain at all, there is a problem. I will warn you though, that after my son had his for about a year, I notice a very thick "gunk" for lack of a better word, and it was more red than yellow or orange. My son's tubes did not fall out, they had to be surgically removed because his ear drum was growing over the tube instead of forcing it out. Keep an eye out about the 1 year mark.

T.

YES! the dr is absolutely correct! I am 33 and have had problems my entire life w/ my right ear. I had tubes put in both ears when I was about your sons age. If there is some sort of infection in the ear then the tube allows the drainage to drain vs. getting clogged in the ear and causeing more damage to the drum! Now, if you start to see blood, thats a whole nother issue! The drainage will smell foul because of the infection in the ear! Dont worry, if u are going to a specialist ask all the questions and voice all the concerns u have! You wont ask a question theyve never heard before...thats what they specialize in! And trust me they will appreciate you as a parent more if you do ask questions cause then they feel safe that you are a caring mom and they can trust youll do the best for your son at home after all the work he does in the office! Relax sweety...but keep your sons health as first priority!

The same thing happened to my son. It looked like green slim was running from his ears. That does mean that the tubes are working. He may need another round of antibiotics to clear everything out. My son needed tubes, drops and meds. But it did eventually clear up. Hope everything works out!!! Good Luck!!