Have you ever seen a small hole in front of the ear? This hole is called the preauricular sinus. How are the preauricular sinuses formed and are these holes dangerous? Check out the following explanation.
The preauricular sinus is a small opening in front of the ear that looks like a piercing. Not everyone has preauricular sinuses and this is a congenital (congenital) disorder. However, preauricular sinus is not a condition to worry about.
The cause of the formation of the preauricular sinus is not known with certainty, but it is suspected that this hole was formed due to failure of tissue union while still in the womb. The preauricular sinus hole usually appears in only one ear. In the ear, there can be only one hole, there can also be several small holes in front of the ear.
What are the Symptoms of an Infected Preauricular Sinus?
In most cases, the preauricular sinus opening is not a problem. New problems will arise when the preauricular sinus openings are filled with dirt and bacteria, causing infection.
This is very susceptible to occur, because the preauricular sinus opening does not have a protective tissue, so that dirt and bacteria can easily accumulate in it.
If the preauricular sinus orifice becomes infected, symptoms that will appear include:
- Reddish ears.
- Swelling in and around the ear canal.
- Ears hurt.
- The preauricular sinus opening drains pus.
- Fever.
How to Treat an Infected Preauricular Sinus?
To treat infection in the preauricular sinus, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria that cause the infection.
The doctor may also drain the pus that collects in the preauricular sinus opening, with a minor surgical procedure. Not only that, the preauricular sinus can also be closed through a surgical procedure, so that infection does not occur again in the future.
Before determining the treatment that needs to be done, the doctor will check the condition and severity of the infection in the preauricular sinus opening. If necessary, the doctor will perform a CT scan or MRI to determine possible complications in the preauricular sinus opening.
Although generally harmless and do not cause any complaints, the preauricular sinus should not be ignored. Because as described above, the preauricular sinus opening is easy to get infected. Always keep it clean and immediately consult a doctor if signs of infection appear in the preauricular sinus opening.