Needs testing: The only sure fire way to know whether a discharge from your ears or nose is CSF is to send it for lab testing. They will be able to identify it by its chemistries. Also, if there is a leak of CSF due to breach in the skull an MRI scan will show what's called meningeal enhancement.
Answered 4/6/2016
3.9k views
Cerebrospinal fluid: Unlikely. Sometimes there can be a fracture at the base of the skull which leads to a cerebrospinal fluid leak through the nose, in the back of the throat, or from the ear canal. Usually there is a bruise over the eye (raccoon sign) or behind the ear (battle sign). When there is a fracture with spinal fluid leak, the fluid is clear and it usually comes out consistently from the same nostril.
Answered 4/6/2016
3.9k views
4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A doctor has provided 1 answer
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.
Ask your question