Extra Hole in front of Ear: Preauricular sinus

Working at a busy ENT clinic in Singapore as an experienced ENT specialist, means that we see a whole range of conditions affecting the ear, nose and throat. Our patients want to be evaluated and treated by a top ENT specialist in Singapore who is also friendly, approachable and good with both children and adults. One interesting example of the many ENT problems we see is the preauricular sinus, an extra hole in front of the ear. This may become infected to form a painful swelling which discharges yellow pus in front of the ear.

So why do people get these unusual ear infections? The preauricular sinus forms when the ear does not develop entirely in a normal manner so a track of ear skin is left buried deep in front of the ear to cause an ear infection. Antibiotics may be needed to treat any infection of the preauricular sinus but ultimately, complete surgical removal of the whole track (with the hole included) has to be carefully carried out to prevent further ear infections from occurring.

For more information on other causes of ear infections, please see https://www.drannabelle.com/ear-hearing-ent-specialist.html

Sometimes, these extra holes in front of the ears may occur on both sides. In these cases, there may be an underlying genetic reason for bilateral preauricular sinuses and these may run in families. There may be an association with kidney abnormalities so a scan of the kidneys may be required.

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