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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How To Stop Recurring Swelling In Ear Lobe In Child?

Three weeks ago I took my 12 year old son to Urgent Care (it was on a weekend) because he had been sick with a cold and he started running a fever (temp was 102 at Urgent Care). The doctor diagnosed him with sinusitis and the beginning of bronchitis. He has asthma that is triggered by viruses, so he tends to get bronchitis once or twice a year. They put him on 10 days of Amoxicillin. About 7 days later his ear lobe started to swell. Within a couple of days it was turning a purple color. I took him back to Urgent Care. (his pediatrician was out of the office for a couple of weeks). The nurse practitioner thought he might have a staph infection. He told me to stop the current medication and start him on Bactrim. In the next couple of days he began running another lower grade fever. But then he started feeling better and within 5 or 6 days the swelling was starting to go down in the earlobe. He finished the 10 day course of Bactrim. But, 3 days after the last dose of Bactrim the earlobe started to swell again. I took him to his pediatrician yesterday. She put him on Cephalexin. (I was concerned about putting him back on Bactrim because he was starting to break out in little rashes on his arms once a day while taking the last couple days of dosages and one of his grandparents is allergic to Sulfa) His pediatrician referred him to an ENT, but they don t have an appointment until 11 days from now. Tonight the back of the earlobe is turning purplish again. Should I take him to the ER tomorrow or contact his pediatrician to see if they can get him to an ENT earlier?
Mon, 6 Jun 2016
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ENT Specialist 's  Response
Hi,
Any sort of swelling or infection in the ear is considered to be taken care of at the earliest. This is because,there are chances that it may spread to the perichondrium.
Once perichondrium is infected, swelling and collection may occur which can even change the shape of the ear. And it's difficult to treat too,might need parenteral antibiotics.
So, I think it's better to take an appointment with ENT sooner.
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How To Stop Recurring Swelling In Ear Lobe In Child?

Hi, Any sort of swelling or infection in the ear is considered to be taken care of at the earliest. This is because,there are chances that it may spread to the perichondrium. Once perichondrium is infected, swelling and collection may occur which can even change the shape of the ear. And it s difficult to treat too,might need parenteral antibiotics. So, I think it s better to take an appointment with ENT sooner.