What to do if your ear is swollen and swollen

In absentia, the doctor's opinion on what to do if the ear is swollen and sore on the outside, or what to do if edema of the ear (auricle) has developed, is always problematic to find out, since ear swelling is a symptom, not a diagnosis. And before giving any advice, the otorhinolaryngologist needs to understand the alleged reasons, including: pathological agents - bacteria, viruses, fungi; allergies; eczema; trauma and mechanical penetration of foreign bodies, etc.

Diseases accompanied by edema of the auricle

Ear tumor and inflammation almost always manifest otitis externa (and sometimes middle and internal). The reason that the ear is swollen and sore outside is perichondritis. With an hematoma, the upper anterior part of the shell becomes blue-purple.

Erysipelas is accompanied by peeling and the appearance of wounds that heal with a crust. And barotrauma, in addition to edema, leads to peeling and redness.

The primary task of a patient with a developing tumor is to determine the typology of the inflammatory process - to distinguish bacterial causes from allergic and mechanical ones, and only then to concretize the diagnosis and choose effective help.

Allergy and Quincke's edema

The reason that the auricle is swollen can be an allergic reaction. For its occurrence, the action of an allergen (food, medicine, cosmetics, pollen, insect poisons, etc.) is necessary. Patients often develop Quincke's edema, which manifests itself in an increase in the entire face or in a separate part of it. More than 90% of visits to a doctor with this problem are due to the use of medications and, first of all, ACE inhibitors (enalapril, captopril).

There are several types of Quincke's edema:

Hereditary. Occurs in one in 150 thousand. The first episodes are recorded at the age of 7-15 years. All patients are prone to developing autoimmune diseases, and if one of the parents is sick, the child has a 50% chance of developing the disease.
Acquired. Cases are very rare (only 50 episodes were recorded between 1997 and 2008). It usually develops after 50 years.
Medication. This type is registered much more often - on average, 1.5 cases per 1,000 population. Development is due to the use of ACE inhibitors.
Allergic. Most often it becomes a manifestation of urticaria - a nettle rash, which is so called because of the similarity of rapidly appearing itchy rashes with blisters that occur after a nettle burn. Dermatitis is pale pink in color and appears as flat, raised bumps. The duration of manifestation does not exceed 2 days.

Despite the fact that allergic and non-allergic types are treated in different ways and non-allergic does not involve the use of adrenaline, antihistamines, without accurate knowledge of the typology of the process, it is more advisable to start therapy anyway with measures aimed at eliminating the allergic reaction.

To do this, adrenaline is injected sequentially intramuscularly, hormonal drugs (prednisolone, dexamethasone) intravenously and antihistamines (preferably intramuscularly).

Otitis

Acute sudden ear pain, accompanied by the release of a transparent or yellow-white purulent secretion and an increase in temperature (37.5 and more), most often indicates the manifestations of the acute stage of the disease. For comparison: when a plug occurs, the pain is stringy, pulling, it is localized in one part of the body and is accompanied by partial congestion and deafness. In this case, the itching accompanying mild pain may indicate a disease of a fungal nature. And the fact that the infection is caused by streptococcus or staphylococcus is evidenced by an unpleasant smell of secretion.

With inflammation of the external canal, otitis externa is diagnosed, which is divided in shape into diffuse and limited.

In a diffuse form, a slight narrowing of the passage and swelling of the shell is already detected during a visual examination. At the same time, there is discomfort, itching and ear pain with characteristic signs of intoxication (headache, fever). Parotid lymph nodes may enlarge. However, hearing does not deteriorate, which distinguishes diffuse otitis media from problems associated with damage to the eardrum. The external form can develop into a malignant external form without treatment.
Limited otitis media is an inflammation of the hair follicle - a boil. Bursting pain becomes a sign of it, the intensity of which increases with conversation. Both hearing and general condition of the patient do not worsen. With this form, patients often do not carry out treatment, since the opening of the boil most often occurs naturally on the 5-6th day.

Otitis caused by bacteria is treated with antibiotics, and antibacterial drops are used for local therapy. At home, treatment of edema in the ear with an allergic type is performed with calcium gluconate (1 tab. Before meals 3 times / day).

Barotraumatic edema

Barotraumatic edema of the ear occurs as a result of changes in environmental pressure during immersion under water and during flights. The degree of elasticity of the tympanic membrane, on the state of which the manifestation of barotrauma largely depends, changes with age. In addition, it is influenced by individual physiological characteristics, therefore, in the same conditions, different people are at different risk of getting barotrauma. But if the first symptom occurs - a feeling of increasing pressure in the ear cavity - you should try to even out the difference:

yawn
swallow saliva
create increased pressure in the nasopharynx by closing the nose and performing "blowing".

It is especially dangerous to dive to great depths under water, which, when a disease occurs, is characterized by:

congestion,
at first a slight, and then a sharp pain,
cold inside the tympanic cavity when water penetrates,
itching, irritation, swelling and redness of the skin in the parotid region,
the development of local inflammation, provoked by microbes that have gotten into the water.

One of the consequences of the condition is the development of the disease in a purulent form with fever, purulent discharge and hearing loss. Treatment is similar to therapy for otitis media: the use of antibiotics, removal of mucosal edema (Tavegil), anti-inflammatory measures (Erespal), increased mucosal secretion (Sinupret), vasoconstriction (Nazivin).

Perichondritis

With perichondritis, inflammatory processes affect the cartilaginous tissue, so the infection does not spread to the lobe. The perichondrium suffers first of all. The inflammation is diffuse and is accompanied by reddening of the skin and the occurrence of painful sensations when touched. Depending on the form, two groups of symptoms are distinguished.

Serous perichondritis - most often the result of insect bites, scratches, frostbite or burns. It is characterized in stages:

glossy shine on the surface of fabrics, shiny skin, redness,
a tumor that, falling down, transforms into a painful lump,
an increase in skin temperature at the site of infection,
a decrease in the intensity of pain.

Purulent perichondritis is characterized by a more violent course with the gradual manifestation of the following symptoms:

the occurrence of lumpy swelling,
the spread of puffiness with the alignment of the tubercles,
redness followed by blue discoloration of tissues,
severe pain, gradually spreading to the occipital and temporal regions,
feverish state,
purulent softening of cartilaginous tissue, followed by possible detachment of the perichondrium.

When diagnosing this disease, it is imperative to use antibiotics, the choice of which depends on the identified pathogen.

For example, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, insensitive to penicillin, is destroyed by tetracycline, streptomycin, erythromycin, and other drugs. For local therapy, antibiotics and antiseptics are also used. Against the same Pseudomonas aeruginosa (the main causative agent of the disease), the injection of boric acid in powder into the ear canal is especially effective.

Othematoma

The condition when the ears are swollen and reddened is due to hemorrhage and accumulation of blood between the shell of the cartilage (perichondrium) and the cartilage itself - an irregularly shaped plate that forms the "frame" of the auricle. When pressed (sometimes with a hard pillow or headphones), crumpled, blunt tangential blows, the skin over the cartilage retains its integrity, but small blood vessels suffer. The blood accumulating in the upper front part of the ear forms a specific appearance: the contours of the ear (top) first change color, becoming purple-blue, and then, if not treated, they smooth out, acquire tuberosity.

This shell shape is typical for wrestlers, boxers and other athletes associated with contact martial arts. However, in case of impaired blood circulation (in old people, patients), hematoma is rare, but it can manifest itself for no apparent reason. Othematoma, when touched, often does not cause pain, it relatively rarely suppurates, but during treatment, an antibiotic is usually prescribed to prevent inflammation of the cartilage.

In the first hours after a minor hemorrhage, the puffiness is removed by applying cold, but with a more significant accumulation of blood, it is removed with a syringe (the place of accumulation is pierced with a needle and the blood is sucked off) and applying a pressure bandage for 1-2 days.

A pressure dressing that reproduces the contours of the shell is necessary to prevent the re-accumulation of blood. If the puncture does not help, a surgical incision is made parallel to the contours of the cartilage and drainage is inserted into the cavity. In the case of drainage, antibiotics are mandatory.

Erysipelas (erysipelas)

Symptoms of erysipelas may resemble purulent perichondritis in the initial stage. It is characterized by ear swelling and soreness with burning sensation. In the behind-the-ear zones and ear canals, cracks, abscesses, redness are observed. The incubation period is about 3-5 days, after which the disease goes into an acute phase with vivid manifestations of general intoxication, a very high temperature.

The affected area of the ear visually clearly differs from the healthy one with a painful elevated ridge. At the same time, the skin becomes hot and tense. Bullous erysipelas is characterized by the appearance of bubbles with a light liquid, which after a half month begin to be rejected in the form of brown dense crusts, and trophic ulcers remain in their place.

Since the causative agent is streptococcus erysipelas, treatment is carried out exclusively under the supervision of a doctor and is associated with the use of antibiotics, as well as drugs that restore damaged tissue.

Traditional therapy

Infection of bacterial origin is treated with the use of antibacterial drugs - drops "Ofora", "Tsipromed", "Normax", and in case of general intoxication - with broad-spectrum antibiotics: macrolides ("Gentamicin"), fluoroquinolones ("Ciprofloxacin"), cephalosporins ("Cefotaxime") ...
Allergenic edema is eliminated with antihistamines, hormonal drugs.
Catheterization and blowing of the auditory tube is carried out in a hospital.
Tumors and hemorrhages are eliminated by traditional surgery, exposure to high-frequency radio waves and a laser beam.
To extract the insect, vegetable oil can be dropped into the ear canal, preheating it.

Traditional medicine recipes

In folk medicine, there are ways with which in the past they tried to eliminate both the edema of the auricle and edema in the ear:

Salt heated in a pan, packed in a sock, was heated. However, in some diseases, this may be contraindicated. For example, otitis media is often treated with "dry heat" (salt in a bag), but this can only be done with the consent of the doctor, since during an exacerbation, UHF and warming compresses are prohibited, and can be prescribed only during remission.
A plantain or cabbage leaf was applied to the swollen place, leaving it for 1-2 hours, followed by replacement with a new one.
Otitis media was treated with laurel infusion. The sheet was crushed and insisted on boiling water for an hour. A swab moistened with this liquid was inserted into the auditory opening.
To reduce inflammation, a gauze swab dipped in propolis tincture was placed in the auditory opening for a day. To make the tincture, propolis was poured with alcohol for 10 days, after which it was mixed with vegetable oil in a ratio of 1: 4.
Eucalyptus, chamomile, rose, lavender, and tea tree oils were used as an antiseptic. To do this, the tampon was dipped in warm water, to which several (2-4) drops of essential oil were previously added.