There is a small hole next to the ear with a foul smell, which is generally caused by congenital preauricular fistula accompanied by inflammatory infection. It may cause pain symptoms, and a large amount of purulent secretions can be squeezed out by hand. In this case, we must treat it symptomatically. We can take anti-inflammatory drugs orally for anti-inflammatory treatment. During surgery, the blind end of the fistula should be removed together to avoid recurrence after surgery.
The foul-smelling small hole next to the ear is caused by congenital preauricular fistula. It is usually accompanied by infection. Congenital preauricular fistula is a congenital ear deformity caused by incomplete development, poor development, or incomplete fusion of the first and second branchial arches during fetal development. There is often a small hole on the tragus. When there is no infection, there may be no symptoms. Once water or inflammation infects the tragus, it will cause skin swelling and pain at the tragus, and severe cases may have abscesses. When squeezed, purulent secretions can exude and accompanied with a foul smell.
In the treatment of the foul-smelling small hole next to the ear, first of all, symptomatic and anti-inflammatory treatment is needed. Oral anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken, such as cefixime and amoxicillin. The local area can be repeatedly wiped with iodophor and alcohol. If an abscess is formed, it needs to be incised and drained to remove the abscess completely. It is best to perform surgery when the patient is not infected. During surgery, the blind end of the fistula should be removed together to achieve complete cure and avoid recurrence.
