What's that little hole above the ear? Let's find out what it is, what its origin is and how to intervene in case of infection
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousWhat's that little hole above the ear? Let's find out what it is, what its origin is and how to intervene in case of infection
By chance you noticed a small hole just near the ear and are you wondering what it is? This is the preauricular sinus, a benign genetic malformation, usually located where the cartilage of the ear connects to the face.
Where does it originate? The preauricular breast has very ancient origins, since it is formed in the fetus since it is in the mother's belly; it is hereditary and appears on one side only, although there are cases of preauricular sinus present in both ears.
This formation originates from the incomplete absorption of the longitudinal gills during the embryonic life of the fetus. In fact, they are also defined with the name of residual branchial cysts, do not give problems and in most cases are asymptomatic, even if there are cases of infections, with more or less serious symptoms such as:
- localized swelling
- abscesses
- redness
- local pain and twinges
In case of persistent infections and symptoms of this type, it is advisable to consult a surgeon specialized in otolaryngology, since the preauricular sinus is located close to the facial nerve and, consequently, a targeted intervention by a specialized doctor is necessary.
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Sources: Scielo.br; Jamanetwork.com; Sciencedirect.com; ncbi
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