“Inflamed ear red and swelling (cartilage not inner ear)?”
Hello, I wanted to know if I have a red and swelling ear (cartilage, outer part of ear, perichondritis) for 5 days, and I've started antibiotics 3 days ago (ciprofloxacin). When should the swelling and pain reduce? I've been to the doctor 2 times, but the swelling has not gone down. I don't think it has gotten worse, but the ear is still painful to the touch.
Can you help me? What are my next steps?
Can you help me? What are my next steps?
Female | 47 years old
Complaint duration: 5 days
Conditions: n/a
3 Answers
Perichondritis can be very painful. Ice, anti-inflammatories are helpful, but you need to be on antibiotics that will cover pseudomonas. Ciprofloxacin is a good oral antibiotic for that, but because the cartilage itself does not have blood supply into it, it may take a while to show response. Show response. The blood supply to the cartilage is within the covering of the cartilage only, called the pericondrium. Just be patient and make sure you finish the entire course of antibiotics.
You may have a condition called relapsing polychondritis, which is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs.
Polychondritis, an auto immune condition not an infection. Corticosteroids usually helps
