Patient's question:
I have a fistula in front of my ear. It has been inflamed for the past two days. The doctor said it needs to be removed after the inflammation subsides, but I don't want to be treated. Could you please tell me what are the hazards of a pre-auricular fistula?Doctor's answer:
Hello, generally speaking, asymptomatic individuals do not require treatment. If there is infection and pus formation, antibiotics or sulfonamide drugs can be administered, such as penicillin, 800,000 units each time, intramuscular injection (note to perform an allergy test); or erythromycin, 0.25g three times daily, orally. If an abscess forms, it should be incised promptly to drain pus, clean the area, and disinfect it, followed by dressing changes with povidone-iodine gauze. Once the redness and swelling subside and the infection is controlled, a fistula resection can be performed. It is essential to remove the fistula completely in one operation; otherwise, residual fistula tissue may lead to recurrence of infection, and subsequent surgical outcomes will be poor.