Insect bit on ear, rash & swollen lymph under ear

[Natekoe]

In late may I was doing yard work and got bit by something on the ear.  There were 3 distinctive areas with redness and swelling.  For about a month my lymph node was swollen and my ear was constantly peeling, red and itchy.  I went to the doc after a month about the lymph node and a needle sample was taken by an ENT doc- it was just WBC/lymphocite tissue.  After a round of antibiotics, my node went down, but has come back up/down since then. It seems to swell over night and go back down after I'm up and moving, but not down completely.

The rash on the ear has persisted and is now spreading onto the face and not so much on the ear now except the back side of it- it is slow moving.  It is somewhat like a raised line moving outwards.  None of the docs I've seen have really said anything about the rash.  It seems like the rash on the ear is in a 4 day cycle where it peels new skin or flares up.  I'm not having any other symptoms with the swollen lymph node and the node itself is not tender.

Sunday morning my node was swollen and my upper lip on the same side as the node was moving involuntarily like a spasm.  This actually woke me up.  This stopped after 2 hours when my lymph node swelling went back down.  I'm not sure what I should do next. I've tried Cortisone cream, antibiotic ointment, Nystatin and this morning I applied a jock itch cream.  I'm thinking that once I treat the insect bite/rash that maybe the node will go down.  This is going on 2 months now and the ENT doc hinted at taking my lymph node out next.  I'd rather not have a surgery.  Should I see a dermatologist or immunologist next or try yet another home remedy?  If this is the result of my bug bite, then taking my lymph node will not help my rash, right?

[homesmyheart]

Just saw your post....I have had a similar experience after what appeared to be a bite of some sort on the ear.  It's been a very warm winter for Delaware and  was out clearing brush from my garden in January 2013. Now I have a cyclical rash that comes and goes across my face and now my neck.  My doctors are baffled.  They are treating it like lyme disease right now and at first doxcycline seemed to help along with antihisamines, but now it is coming back even though I am still on the medications. It is very itching and painful like burning sensation...on both sides of face and neck so it is not shingles.  If you have found out what you had it would be helpful to know for sure.  Thanks for any help!

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

The symptoms described by you could be due a skin disorder called eczema. People who suffer from this disorder should avoid contact with triggering factors like soaps, cosmetics, jewelry, clothing, and detergents. Sometimes sweat, changes in temperature and psychological stress are known to trigger these episodes. So, the best way to prevent attacks is to identify those substances which you are allergic to and avoid them. Consult your  primary care physician for therapy. If the need arises he may refer you to a dermatologist.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[Natekoe]

Thanks for your reply. Getting further testing done to see what it may be.

[allmymarbles]

He talks about removing the lymph node because he doesn't know what else to do. The swollen node is probably just a symptom of the problem, whatever the problem is. I would look for an expert in poisonous insects. This might not be a doctor, but may lead you to a doctor.