Ear swelling/pain question.

[SarahRN]

My health insurance doesn't kick in until Monday and I've googled this without any luck. My pinna and tragus area are swollen, hot, red and painful, and theres a small lump beneath the skin in the upper inner fold above the tragus. I also have sinus pressure around my eyes and nose, that ear is blocked, and I have a headache and stiff neck/shoulders. The swollen ear has come and gone a couple times over the past month, but it's been a few days and getting worse. It burns and if I poke at it, it sometimes drains a little bit of clear fluid. I don't have cauliflower ear but it could head that way if it gets any more swollen. I don't recall doing anything traumatic. Any ideas on what it is and what to do to treat it?

 

[golfgal]

Sounds like a pimple to me. Try putting warm compresses on it and see if you can get it to pop.