Otorrhea

Name: Alison Jones

Age: 54Years Old

Date of Birth: 5th May 1970

Location: GP Clinic

Occupation: None, Homeless

“I have been having this ear discharge on my right ear for the past 3 months”.

I often reuse my earbuds to clean my ears because they are expensive. I shower twice a week.

• Site : Right ear 

• Onset : 15 years ago, first time, trigger? 

• Character : Yellow color, Foul smelling, scanty amount of discharge 

• Radiating : Non-radiating 

• Associated symptoms

  • Otalgia, aching pain, intermittent, VAS Pain score is 1/10

• Timing : Intermittent 

• Exacerbating : None 

• Alleviating factors : Pain relieved with OTC paracetamol. Minimal temporary relief.  

• Severity : Nil 

• Red flag symptoms :

  • No asymmetry of both ears (Mastoiditis)

  • No tenderness on palpation posterior to the right ear (Mastoiditis)

• Ideas: “Does it have to do with my hygiene?"

• Expectations: “Have some medications for the ear pain”

• Concerns: “Is there a hole in my ear?”

• Otherwise, NO fever, recent infections

• NO headache, vertigo, dizziness, hearing loss, tinnitus.

• NO chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath,

• NO vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain.

• Normal urinary flow and bowel habits.

Previous hospital admissions: None

Previous surgeries: None

Medical conditions: None

Medications:

• None.

Over the counters:

• None.

Allergies:

• None.

Father and mother are healthy and well. Unsure of how they are doing.

• Smoking: Smokes 20 cigarettes a day for the past 30 years.

• Alcohol: Drinks cheap spirit. A small bottle a day.

• Recreational drugs: Never

• Diet: Eats irregular meals offered by non-profitable organizations.

• Exercise: Never

• Ill contacts: None

• Home: Home alone.. On the streets..

• Active Daily Living: N/A

• Occupation: Homeless

• Poor hygiene