Perichondritis of the ear: symptoms, treatment, photo

Perichondritis of the auricle is a fairly common infectious disease that affects the skin and other tissues located above the cartilage of the external ear.

Causes

Cartilage - this is a dense formation, giving shape to the nose and ears. It is always surrounded by a thin layer of tissue called "perichondria" ("perichondria"). This membrane allows the cartilage to obtain the necessary nutrients.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, remains the most frequent causative agent of infectious damage to perichondria.

Perichondritis of the auricle is most often diagnosed after an injury resulting from:

• The transferred surgical operation on hearing organs;
• Ear piercing (especially in cases where a hole is made in the cartilage);
• Participation in potentially dangerous contact sports.

Currently, the most obvious risk factor is ear piercing, involving cartilage. Infection can also enter the body through burns or damage during the acupuncture session. In addition, the pathological process may be the result of another violation - for example, the disease of the external canal (external otitis) or the growth of the furuncle. The risk of infection is especially high in elderly patients and those who suffer from pathologies of the immune system, including diabetes and HIV.

Perichondritis can cause serious changes in the ear structure if it passes into chondrite - the actual inflammation of the cartilage.

Symptoms

Most often, the disease can be determined independently by the appearance of the ear, which becomes red and painful to the touch. Nevertheless, one should consult an otorhinolaryngologist, since a layman almost never suspects a perichondrite of the auricle. Treatment at home usually begins with the use of ointments and creams against skin infections, but without inclusion in the therapy of antibiotics, inflammation quickly spreads and covers the perichondria.

Redness is usually localized around the injury resulting from injury - cut or scratch. Sometimes there is an increase in body temperature. In more severe cases, fluid is released from the wound.

Diagnostics

Perichondritis of the ear can be diagnosed on the basis of a patient's medical history and after an ear examination by a specialist. If in the history of trauma to the head and in particular the ears, and the ear itself acquired a red tint and became very sensitive, the doctor diagnoses inflammation of the tissues. There may be changes in the shape of the ear caused by the pathological process and swelling.

Treatment

If the otorhinolaryngologist is diagnosed with a "perichondrh of the auricle," treatment with antibiotics is prescribed immediately. Medications are taken orally, in the form of tablets, or are prepared by the intravenous route through a dropper. Most often, doctors recommend the use of "Fluoroquinolone." If pus accumulates in any area, surgery will most likely be required to ensure the outflow of excess fluid and removal of dead skin and cartilage cells.

Forecast

The rate of patient recovery depends entirely on whether diagnostic measures have been taken in a timely manner and treatment has begun. To completely get rid of the symptoms of an infectious disease in the shortest possible time, you need to start taking antibiotics as soon as possible - only then the patient's sole pericondritis of the auricle will remain for a short time. Inflammation of the cartilage of the ear, or chondritis, is a serious complication that occurs as a result of late treatment (or neglect of the need to diagnose and follow the doctor's recommendations) and requires more intensive and prolonged therapy.

Possible complications

With the development of chondritis, a part of the auricle dies out. This fragment must be removed surgically. In this case, there is often a need for an additional plastic surgery to restore the appearance and normal shape of the ear.

When to see a doctor

If you are injured of any kind of injury, which resulted in a damaged ear shell (scratch, punch, piercing), and subsequently this ear became red and painful, as soon as possible, sign up for a consultation with a qualified otorhinolaryngologist. You may need to drink a course of antibiotics.

Prevention

1. The best way to prevent perichondritis of the auricle is not to pierce the ear through the cartilage in the piercing salons. The only conditionally safe area for piercing is the lobe. Nevertheless, the popularity of wearing earrings in the holes made in the cartilage of the ear has already led to a steady increase in the number of cases of seeking medical help as a result of the development of the characteristic symptoms of perichondritis and chondritis. Pay attention to the tools for piercing: they should not only be clean, but also disinfected. After piercing the hole, the damaged area should be constantly rinsed with warm water and thus keep it in perfect cleanliness. Both before and after the piercing it is desirable to show the ear to the otorhinolaryngologist. Perhaps, for more effective prevention of a potentially dangerous disease, such as perichondritis of the auricle, it will be necessary to apply compresses impregnated with liquid antibiotics to the injured area within a few days after the completion of the procedure.

2. If you have pierced through the cartilage, avoid wearing one or more ornaments in one hole.

3. Ask for medical advice at the first suspicion of perichondritis of the auricle. Photos of typical clinical manifestations of the inflammatory process can be easily found on medical sites, and one of them is presented at the beginning of this article.

4. If you are enrolled in an acupuncture session, be sure to use only clean needles of one-time use.

5. Avoid injury to your ears. If you are engaged in contact sports, do not neglect special protective equipment. Potentially dangerous and all favorite football and hockey. Wear a helmet, playing cricket and similar games. Wearing a helmet is also necessary when riding a motorcycle - so you protect your ears from possible scratches and wounds.