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Have Inflammation In Ear. Ear Looks Bright Red, Thick, Swollen And Painful. Suffer From Heat Exhaustion. Should We Go To ER?
Question: My husband woke up with an inflamed ear. The entire outer ear is bright red and very thick & swollen, painful to the touch. On Saturday I thought he was suffering from heat exhaustion, and he rested and drank liquids most of yesterday. The swollen ear may not be related to that. Should we go to the ER? He is 59, 290 lbs, otherwise in good health.
Hello XXXXXXX
Swollen and painful ear condition should not be taken lightly and you must consult an ENT specialist.
These conditions can be because of ----
1. Trauma--in traume there can be collection, which if gets infected then turn in to pus and may destroy the cartilage of the ear and lead to deformation of ear.
2. Seroma--Due to serous fluid collection , this can be due to minor trauma or some other systemic condition. This serous fluid also ,may get infected and lead to pus formation.
3. Cartilage inflamation ---there are many systemic disease like Relapsing polychondritis, sle, etc which may lead to inflamation of the cartilage.
There will be pain and destruction of cartilage without pus formation.
You must get examined and so that a diagnosis can be made, and if required blood investigations can be done.
If not possible , see a GP and take---
Antibiotic
Mucolytics
Hot fomentation of the ear
If required oral steroids
Get well soon.
If in doubt do reply.
Swollen and painful ear condition should not be taken lightly and you must consult an ENT specialist.
These conditions can be because of ----
1. Trauma--in traume there can be collection, which if gets infected then turn in to pus and may destroy the cartilage of the ear and lead to deformation of ear.
2. Seroma--Due to serous fluid collection , this can be due to minor trauma or some other systemic condition. This serous fluid also ,may get infected and lead to pus formation.
3. Cartilage inflamation ---there are many systemic disease like Relapsing polychondritis, sle, etc which may lead to inflamation of the cartilage.
There will be pain and destruction of cartilage without pus formation.
You must get examined and so that a diagnosis can be made, and if required blood investigations can be done.
If not possible , see a GP and take---
Antibiotic
Mucolytics
Hot fomentation of the ear
If required oral steroids
Get well soon.
If in doubt do reply.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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