What Causes Pain in Front of the Left Ear?

Pain in front of the left ear can be caused by infections of preauricular fistulas, external otitis, enlarged preauricular lymph nodes, and other conditions.

1. Preauricular Fistula: Preauricular fistula is a congenital disease mainly caused by incomplete fusion of the first and second branchial arches during embryonic development. It has no obvious clinical manifestations, except for a fistula in front of the ear. If the fistula is infected, it can lead to purulent secretions, swelling and pain of the surrounding skin.

2. External Otitis: External otitis is caused by direct bacterial invasion, external environmental irritation, and damage to the skin of the external auditory canal. The main symptoms are ear pain, ear itchiness, and increased ear discharge. Some inflammatory invasions can cause pain in a small area in front of the ear.

3. Preauricular Lymph Nodes: The enlargement of preauricular lymph nodes is caused by inflammatory infections and fever in surrounding tissues. Pressing on the enlarged lymph nodes can cause pain in front of the ear.

Pain in front of the left ear can also be caused by ear furuncles, temporomandibular joint disorder syndrome, and mumps. It is recommended to identify the cause before treatment and to focus on rest and consuming easily digestible foods in daily life.