Diagnosis of
perichondritis

Perichondritis will be diagnosed by your GP during an examination of the ear. They’ll ask you a few questions that may help to determine the cause, like if you play contact sports, or if you’ve recently had an ear piercing.

Perichondritis
treatment

Early treatment is important in order to reduce the chance of the infection spreading to the cartilage which could damage the structure of the ear.

If you think you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of perichondritis, you should see your GP as soon as possible.

Depending on the extent of the infection, they’ll usually prescribe a course of antibiotics. If it’s caused by a piercing or splinter in the ear, it will need to be removed.

Patient outlook
for perichondritis

With prompt and effective treatment, your ear can return to its normal state and make a full recovery.

If the infection spreads to the cartilage, there may be further complications which can be permanent. So it’s important that you seek medical advice as soon as possible.