Perichondritis of auricles refers to infectious diseases, which develops due to the penetration of pathogens into the perichondrium, resulting in inflammation of the ear, accompanied by swelling and severe pain. In the ICD 10, perichondritis is designated as H61.0.
Untimely treatment of the disease can lead to a number of complications, including hearing impairment. There are 2 forms of the disease: serous and purulent.
Symptoms of perichondritis
Depending on which form of perichondritis develops, the symptoms of the disease differ.
Serous forms are characterized by:
- Weak pain sensations in a specific place of the ear, which are periodically amplified.
- Appearance of the ear swelling, redness and tightness of the skin, as well as pronounced gloss.
- Increase in temperature at the site of occurrence of the outbreak.
- Appearance of the seal on the auricle.
Purulent form is characterized by:
- Severe pain, which is particularly pronounced when touching the diseased area.
- Hocky swelling of the auricle.
- The appearance of redness on the ear site, which can later be transformed into cyanosis.
- High fever in the patient, up to 38-39 degrees.
- Strong deformation of the auricle, which is clearly visible.
- Presence of pus under a layer of skin that is easily detected by palpation.
Causes of
Disease Perichondritis can occur due to various reasons:
- Ear trauma.
- Complications due to tuberculosis or influenza.
- Decreased immunity.
- Complications due to removal of boils.
- Insect bite, especially this often provokes a child's ear curl.
- Development of otitis media.
Photo how the various forms of perichondritis look
Treatment of
At the onset of perichondritis development, you should immediately contact a doctor who will prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Depending on the degree of the disease, its causes and individual characteristics of the patient, it can be medicated or surgical.
It is also possible to use folk remedies, but they are ineffective and can only reduce pain, but not cure the disease.
Medication
Treatment with medications without surgeon intervention is sufficient to cure the serous form of perichondritis. Anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics are prescribed.
The dosage of medications is indicated directly by the doctor. To reduce pain, it is recommended to drink anesthetic.
Treatment of the auricle by means of ointment, boric acid or tincture of iodine can also be prescribed. Reduce the inflammation and compresses made of aluminum acetate 8%.
Physiotherapy
Serous form of the disease is very effective and the use of physiotherapy. The patient may be assigned laser therapy, UV irradiation or X-ray therapy. UHF or microwave is also possible.
With a purulent form, physiotherapy is not effective.
Surgical intervention
Treatment with medicines will not completely eliminate purulent perichondritis, especially at the last stage of the disease. The surgeon's intervention will be required.
The doctor makes a special incision through which pus is pumped out. Also, the operation removes dead tissue. After, for several days during which purulent discharge continues, the affected area is washed with antiseptics and antibiotics.
Once the discharge ceases, a tight bandage is applied to the ear. Soon the patient recovers.
Complications of
When inflammation of the auricle should not be delayed with treatment and hope that the pain and swelling disappear themselves.
It is necessary to immediately seek medical help, otherwise perichondritis can give serious complications that will lead to unpleasant consequences. Complications of this disease include:
- Disturbance of the cartilaginous structure of the auricle.
- The necrosis of some ear tissues and their rejection by the body.
- Deformation of the ear and an unattractive appearance.
What to do if the ear hurts, see in our video:
Preventive measures
Perichondritis is a rather unpleasant and heavily flowing disease. It is much easier to prevent its occurrence than to deal with its treatment.
In order to reduce the risk of perichondritis of the auricle, the following recommendations should be adhered to:
- Avoid ear damage and try not to injure it.
- Regularly clean the ear canal, removing sulfur plugs and dirt.
- In case of ear trauma, treat it with antiseptics.
- When furuncles appear, do not squeeze them out, but treat them with special tools.
In addition to these recommendations, you should also take care of your health and strengthen your immune system. With decreasing immunity, the likelihood of getting perichondritis is greatly increased.
If swelling and redness of the ear appears, do not self-medicate, but immediately consult an otolaryngologist.
Independent attempts to cure the disease without eliminating the causes of its occurrence and with improper application of medications can lead to serious complications.