Patient's question:
My son has been experiencing inflammation and redness around his auricle recently, with some local itching and swelling. Sometimes, there is also a discharge of white substance with a slightly unpleasant odor. The doctor said he has congenital preauricular fistula. How should congenital preauricular fistula be treated?Doctor's answer:
Congenital preauricular fistula is divided into simple, infectious, and excretory types. It is generally asymptomatic. Light pressure may cause a small amount of thin, viscous mucus or creamy sebum-like substance to ooze from the fistula opening, accompanied by local itching and discomfort. If there are no symptoms or infections, no treatment is necessary. If a congenital preauricular fistula experiences a recurrence of infection, it will likely recur repeatedly in the future. It should be decided upon an appropriate time to have it completely excised. Because once a congenital preauricular fistula experiences a recurrence of infection, it often leads to scar adhesion, making drainage even more difficult. It will inevitably lead to a second, third infection, ultimately forming a purulent fistula and scar.