There is a small bump in my ear

Sometimes when we touch our ears, we may find a small lump inside them. Generally speaking, if you encounter this situation, you may have localized otitis externa, which is a common disease in ear department. The emergence of this disease has a lot to do with the way we clean our ears. This disease may occur if water accumulates in the external auditory canal frequently or if an ear pick is used to pick the ears.

External auditory canal furuncle is an acute localized suppurative lesion of the skin of the external auditory canal, also known as localized external otitis. It occurs in the cartilaginous part of the external auditory canal and is one of the common ear diseases. Most of the time, it is caused by ear picking that damages the skin of the external auditory canal, or water accumulates in the external auditory canal during bathing or swimming, which softens the local epidermis and makes it easy for bacteria to invade and become infected.

Clinical manifestations

1. Pain in ear traction, tenderness in the tragus, or pain when chewing;

2. Ulceration and pus discharge from the external auditory canal;

3. Hearing loss may occur due to swelling and blockage of the ear canal;

4. If the furuncle is located on the front wall of the external auditory canal, swelling in front of the ear may occur and may involve the parotid gland; furuncle on the posterior wall may cause swelling behind the ear and in the mastoid area.

examine

Examination of the affected ear reveals single or multiple small boils in the external auditory canal, which appear as localized redness, swelling and bulges. The pain is significantly aggravated by pulling the auricle or pressing the tragus. Blood tests may show an increased white blood cell count.

diagnosis

1. Medical history

Pay attention to whether there is ear picking, trauma, ear leakage, etc.

2. Physical examination

(1) Pay attention to whether there is any pain in the auricle, tenderness in the tragus, or pain when chewing;

(2) Pay attention to whether it is a single or multiple furuncle, whether there is pus plug, and whether it has ruptured and discharged pus;

(3) Pay attention to the parotid gland and mastoid process. If the furuncle is located on the anterior wall of the external auditory canal, swelling may occur in front of the ear and may affect the parotid gland. Furuncles on the posterior wall may cause swelling behind the ear and in the mastoid process. It must be differentiated from mumps and mastoiditis. The tympanic membrane and hearing should be checked whenever possible.

Differential Diagnosis

Different from the ear pain caused by acute otitis media, there is no pulling pain on the auricle in acute otitis media.

treat

Place a 1.1% to 2% phenol glycerin or 10% ichthyol glycerin cotton plug in the external auditory canal, or apply Chinese medicine detumescence powder plus 2% dyclonine berberine ointment topically, and give antibiotics and analgesics when necessary.

2. Local hot compress, physical therapy or procaine blockade treatment.

3. If the furuncle is already fluctuating, incision and drainage can be performed.

4. For patients with recurrent illness, attention should be paid to whether they have chronic wasting diseases, such as diabetes, nephritis, malnutrition, etc., and appropriate treatment should be given.

prevention

1. It is forbidden to pick your ears.

2. After becoming ill, such as in winter, you can plug the opening of the external auditory canal with loose cotton balls to keep the external auditory canal at a certain humidity.

3. Keep the external auditory canal dry and clean. When wiping off dirt, avoid wiping roughly or repeatedly.

4. In the early stages of the disease or when the boil is immature, apply hot compresses to the outside of the ear. 3 to 4 times a day.

5. When sleeping, the affected ear should be on the lower side, but be careful not to let it be compressed.

6. Pay attention to treating systemic causes of disease.