ear, nose, and throat disorders
Perichondritis
Introduction
Perichondritis is infection of the tissue covering the cartilage of the external part of the ear called the auricle (pinna). Injuries, burns, insect bites, ear piercings through the cartilage, ear surgery, or a boil on the ear may cause perichondritis. The infection also tends to occur in people who have inflammatory disorders, such as Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis , whose The first symptoms are redness, pain, and swelling of the auricle. The person may have a fever. Pus accumulates between the cartilage and the layer of connective tissue around it (perichondrium). Sometimes the pus cuts off the blood supply to the cartilage, destroying it and leading eventually to a deformed ear (called cauliflower ear). Perichondritis can be destructive, recur, and last a long time. 