Otorrhea

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A condition marked by the unintentional loss of fluids from the ear leading to potential infection or underlying issues
2. A medical condition characterized by the abnormal discharge from the ear, often indicating an infection or other medical problems
3. The flow of liquid from the ear canal that may signal infection or injury

Etymology: "Otorrhea" is a plain medical compound, built from the combining form "oto-", from Greek "ous" (genitive "ōtos"), meaning "ear", and "-rrhea", from Greek "rhoia", meaning "flow" or "discharge". The Greek roots sit inside a much older tradition of naming bodily flows: "-rrhea" appears in many medical terms, such as "diarrhea" and "gonorrhea", all describing a discharge from a body part or passage. Put together, the word describes exactly what it names: a flow from the ear. Clinicians use it to describe fluid draining from the ear canal, which may point to infection, a perforated eardrum, or injury to the ear.