Patients who have symptoms of watery ears and a foul odor often have a condition called external ear canal eczema or chronic suppurative otitis media. The occurrence of eczema in the external ear canal is often related to the repeated ingress of water and moisture into the ear canal, as well as the repeated irritation of the skin of the ear canal by tears or sweat. The ear canal also tends to accumulate mucous or even purulent secretions, which can produce an odor or foul smell over time. Some patients may have chronic purulent otitis media, where the eardrum is perforated for a long period of time and the middle ear cavity repeatedly produces mucopurulent inflammatory secretions that accumulate over a long period of time and cause a foul smell or odor in the ear canal. Some patients may further develop hyperplasia such as cholesteatoma in the external ear canal or middle ear cavity, which may also lead to foul-smelling ear symptoms and require further detailed examination.