Perichondritis is an infection of the skin and tissue close to the animal tissue of the external organ.
Causes, incidence and risk factors of Perichondritis
Cartilage is the thick tissue that makes the form of the nose and therefore the external organ. All animal tissue features a skinny layer of tissue around it referred to as the perichondrium. This covering helps give nutrients to the animal tissue.
The most common bacteria that cause perichondritis infection is Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Perichondritis is sometimes caused by injury to the ear that leads to ear surgery, ear piercing (especially piercing of the cartilage), or contact sports. Ear piercing through the animal tissue is perhaps the foremost vital risk issue nowadays. Surgery, burns, and treatment conjointly increase the chance of infection.
Perichondritis will cause severe injury to the ear structure if it becomes chondritis the infection of the animal tissue itself.
Symptoms of Perichondritis
A painful, red ear is that the commonest symptom. Initially, the infection can appear to be a skin infection (cellulitis). However, it quickly worsens and involves the perichondrium.
The redness typically surrounds a section of injury, like a cut or scrape. There can also be fever, and in additional severe cases fluid debilitating from the wound.
Signs and tests to diagnose Perichondritis
Perichondritis is diagnosed supported the person’s medical record and by staring at the ear. If there's a history of trauma to the ear and therefore the ear is red and really tender, then perichondritis is diagnosed. There is also an alteration within the traditional form of the ear. The ear might look swollen.
Treatment of Perichondritis
Treatment consists of antibiotics, either orally or directly into the blood through a blood vessel line (IV). If there's an un-free assortment of pus, surgery is also necessary to empty this fluid and take away any dead skin and animal tissue.
Expectations (prognosis) once Perichondritis
What happens depends on however quickly the infection is diagnosed and treated. If antibiotics are taken too soon, full recovery is predicted. In additional advanced cases, once the infection involves the ear animal tissue (chondritis), a part of the ear might die and wish to be surgically removed. If so, cosmetic surgery is also required to revive the ear to its traditional form.
Complications associated with Perichondritis
If not treated early enough, the infection will unfold to the ear animal tissue. this may need removal of the broken half and presumably surgery to revive it to a standard form.
Calling health care supplier
If the patient suffers any trauma to his ear (a scratch, blow, or piercing) so develop pain and redness over the stiff a part of the external organ, contact the healthcare supplier. The patient might have to require antibiotics.