Hello doctor, I am 21. I have a problem of pus discharge from my right ear, right from childhood. I have been told that there is a perforation and it needs to be closed by a surgery. Recently, I had severe pain as well along with the pus. The usage of buds to clean was the reason for the pain which caused a earache (cartilage inflammation, I guess). I went to the doctor, have taken the medication. I do not have pain anymore. I am using tablets and eardrops to reduce the pus discharge right now. My major concern is about what foods I need to avoid to avoid any pus or ear problem. Is it right that I need to avoid eating ice creams, anything that is cold and sweets, cakes, especially can I have chocolate cake? Please do tell me clearly what all I need to avoid strictly and what all I can have.
Hello. The perforation has to be closed using tympanoplasty surgery. Otherwise, the perforation may become unsafe with loss of ossicles and more complex surgeries may be required for its correction. Chances are there for the development of cholesteatoma which can invade and destroy bone and spread to surrounding structures like brain. What you should be worried about is not what food you should eat or avoid but about the permanent solution to this problem. If, however, you want to know what food to avoid, avoid all those that can cause an upper respiratory tract infection, as the infection can trigger a ear infection and cause recurrent ear discharge. For more details on the surgery and how to go about it, do write back to us. If you have done any tests please attach all the reports and previous treatment records. For more information consult an ENT otolaryngologist online -->