Preauricular abscess

[kimmy72]

For 2 weeks I have been dealing with a very painful abscess on my ear, where after alot of research and several trips to a local medical clinic and ER, I have found that what I have is an abscess in the Preauricular pit/sinus.

I have been given 3 rounds of antibiotics, one of which I am still taking (Clindamyacin). I have yet to see any improvement from taking the antibiotics, so I went to the ER yesterday where they attempted to do and Incision and Drainage procedure. Some of the abscess was soft, but a large part of it in the middle was still hard... ??? With making an incision, the doctor was able to squeeze a good portion of the abscess out... but there is still a fairly large sized lump there. There has been no drainage coming from the incision since she did this.
I still have some tenderness down the side of my cheek, as well as some puffiness up into my scalp area as well.

I can say that by doing what she did, it did relieve alot of pressure and pain that I was having, but I still am having to take pain relievers to reduce the swelling and continued discomfort.
She instructed me to continue finishing out the anitbiotic I am now taking, and that it should dry up anything left in the abscess, as she said that at the point it was beforehand that no antibiotic would be able to get rid of it alone without I&D procedure being performed.

I am still very concerned, and am thinking of contacting an Ear, Nose and Throat physician about this bc I just feel like a regular physician does not know much about preauricular pits/sinuses, as I have had to educate every physician I have seen thusfar for treatment bc they had no idea what those little holes in the tops of my ears were. I get the feeling that they do not know the complications that can arise from the condition, and that has me worried that if the swelling continues that more serious problems are going to develop.

Has anyone else had this problem?

[OtoHNS_MD]

These are fairly common.  If they repeated get infected, they can be surgically removed.  See an ENT MD.  It is likely that the infection would need to be treated with antibiotics prior to any surgery.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

OtoHNS_MD has good advice, an ENT can take care of it if it's not getting better.

[sime_on]

Reply to post by Kimmy72-

I have been dealing with pain and swelling of my right ear over the past week, and after alot of research and several trips to a number of medical centres, I also realised the small hole present on my right external ear is a preauricular sinus/pit.

Upon my first visit to the GP(where my ear was not yet swollen but was very itchy, with alot of discharge and peculiar smell present), I was prescribed antibiotics(Ibilex) to treat my ear. I also had a sore throat which I thought was associated with my ear itching/swelling but the doctor said to just take the antibiotics to clear up my nose and throat. However, due to my skepticism with the GP's evaluation of my condition, I decided not to buy the prescribed antibiotics with the script I was given. I persisted with the sore throat and swollen ear(constantly applying Dettol antiseptic liquid) until the pain(especially my ear) reached the point that I needed better medicine to relieve my discomfort in my ear and throat. I purchased the antibiotics(Ibilex) 2 days after the initial visit to the GP and started taking them immediately, along with betadine gargle and strepsils to relieve my sore throat.

After 2 days taking Ibilex, my ear did not improve, with pain and swelling increasing. I managed to research some articles on the management of my condition(infected preauricular sinus) on the internet and discovered that my ear swelling was in fact an abscess forming, therefore needing an I&D(incision and drainage) procedure to be undertaken. I attempted to visit another GP this time(one which was open late at night) to undertake this procedure(as the pain in my ear and head was very severe) but it took me 2 GP appointments(through constant persistence that I needed the I&D procedure undertaken) to finally have my ear incised and drained. Once the surgical procedure with local anaesthesia was performed, the pressure and pain on the right side of my head was relieved. If anyone undergoes this I&D procedure, please make sure your doctor/nurse gives you some pain killers(Panadeine or panadeine forte depending on severity of pain) to control the pain after the local anaesthetic has worn off. I have currently changed my course of antibiotics from Ibilex to Flucloxacillin and am resting at home while my ear wound heals. My sore throat is still present but is much more bearable than the pain I experienced from my infected preauricular sinus/pit. I am currently gargling salt water and taking strepsils lozenges to relieve my sore throat.

Here is a good article I discovered while researching my condition-

http://www.****

[kimmy72]

Thanks for your replies :)

After all was said and done, I had an I&D. I think this was the worst experience that I have ever had! But was relieved from alot of discomfort in the end. There was still alot of stuff left that the dr couldnt get out, but was told that it would drain out on its own. The following day after I had the I&D, I applied a hot rag to the area and within 15 minutes it began draining constantly. By the end of the day, it was almost all completely drained out.
Sweet relief! ;)

I havent had any problems with it since then, except I notice that I now have developed a small bump down below the preauricular sinus.. which I think they call a tag or something.

I hope that you are doing better now, sime_on :)