Why do I have a little hole on my ear?

Why do I have a little hole on my ear?

Why do I have a little hole on my ear?

A preauricular pit is a small hole in front of the ear, toward the face, that some people are born with. This hole is connected to an unusual sinus tract under the skin. This tract is a narrow passageway under the skin that can cause infection.

Why does my ear pit smell?

A preauricular sinus appears as a very small pit just in front of the external ear (see figure 1). Most people with preauricular sinuses are completely asymptomatic. However, these sinuses can drain a foul smelling discharge, and when this happens, they are prone to chronic infection.

How do you get rid of Preauricular pits?

Surgically removing the entire tract if the pit is prone to recurrent infections. The procedure is done under general anesthesia and may take up to an hour; it can be done in an outpatient facility. A surgeon will usually postpone surgery until after an infection and residual inflammation are cleared up.

Why does my preauricular sinus hurt?

The majority of preauricular sinuses do not cause symptoms or problems unless they become infected. Common signs of infection include swelling, redness, fluid drainage, and pain. In these cases, treatment typically includes systemic antibiotics . If an abscess is present, it will likely need to be incised and drained.

What comes out of preauricular pits?

An abscess may form in an infected preauricular pit. An abscess is a small, painful lump that contains pus. One study in young adult men with preauricular pits found that up until adulthood, around 25% of the holes developed symptoms. The most common symptom was recurrent sinus discharge.

What triggers preauricular sinus?

Preauricular sinus may occur sporadically during the development of an embryo or it may be inherited in an autosomal dominant manner with reduced penetrance . Less often, it occurs as a feature of another condition or syndrome . Treatment may include antibiotics for infection and/or surgery to remove the sinus.

Can Preauricular pits cause headaches?

Clinical presentations of preauricular sinus abscess are usually recurrent ear discharge, pain, swelling, itching, headache and fever.

How do I know if my Preauricular sinus is infected?

Is Preauricular sinus genetic?

Preauricular sinuses are inherited in an incomplete autosomal dominant pattern, with reduced penetrance and variable power of expression. They can arise spontaneously. The sinus may be bilateral in 25-50% of cases, and bilateral sinuses are more likely to be hereditary.