Teenaged, Have Rapid Ear Growths Since Infancy That Interfere With Hearing, Neck Pain. Medication And Treatment?

Posted on Mon, 10 Jun 2013

Question: My daughter (17) had rapidly (VERY rapidly) growing growths in her ears as infant. They told me that sometimes they couyld treat with a drop and it would dissolve the tumor things. This they did, it worked, but they said it could come back. Now I am in a different area and they say they never heard of these tumors and don't know what the med the doctor used to dissolve them was (oily drops that smelled and hurt when they touched my fingers). She is 17 and scared. When these growths get big they interfere with hearing and hurt neck and down her shoulders. she has had many ear problesm over the years but these growths never came back -- they narrow the ear canal. any ideas what the medication was? It worked miracles......? the doctor here says "swimner's ear" but there is no way, i have a lot of kids and KNOW what it is ...

Answered by Dr. Abhishek Sharma (43 minutes later)

Hello,

Thanks for writing to XXXXXXX

The details provided is clear that your daughter had previous multiple episodes of ear discharge and ear infections for which ear tubes were put and treatment. Now without proper details, it would be hard to guess the growth and it's treatment. However my bet would be on ear polyp. She may have had polyps in the ear, which is the edematous mucosa or skin of middle part of ear. The skin of middle ear gets edematous because of recurrent infections and discharge, if proper antibiotic is not taken.

Your previous doctors must have prescribed antibiotic and steroid ear drops to control the infection.

If she has similar symptoms now, you can advise her to see an ENT specialist and to get her ears checked so that ears can be examined for--
Perforation in the ear drum
Edematous mucosa
Presence of discharge

She can consider a course of antibiotics after consulting your doctor. And later (if it is the same disease) then she can be operated to get complete relief from the disease.

In the meanwhile the following measures will offer protection:
1. Keep ears dry i.e. do not allow water to enter her ears while she is taking bath or going out in rains.
2. Prevent from loud sounds
3. Prevent her from recurrent nose infections/ nasal blockage/ nasal discharge.
4. DO NOT CLEAN HER EARS AND TELL HER NOT TO DO BY HERSELF.

Hope I answered your query. Let me know if you need clarifications.

Regards

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. Prasad