What causes hot,red and painful outer ears? - Online Doctor Chats
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Practicing since : 2003
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Woke up yesterday with hot red painful outer ears, like a bad sunburn but that's not possible. Now huge clear blisters along inner curve of top fold of outer ear, both ears identical as to the blistering. Feeling some pressure inside left ear. Pain gone.
Hello
Please give me a minute to go through your query
You seem to be having either Shingles or bacterial infection of the outer ear
You need to consult your local doctor to determine the exact nature of the problem and if it turns out to be bacterial infection, then you will need a course of antibiotics
hello are you there?
sorry, couldnt at first see how to answer you.
if it's bacterial, would it be identical to both ears?
also, if it's shingles, is there really any treatment except palliative?
you spelled your name two different ways, by the way...
Yes, it can be identical even if it is bacterial infection
I missed 'H' in my name, that is why I retyped it
And if it is shingles, yes there is treatment other than just palliative
would the pain be likely to be gone now if it's bacterial,
No, if it is bacterial, the pain should persist
if it's shingles, would the pain also be likely to persist?
do I need to find a doctor right away, or is it likely OK to wait until I get back home next Monday?
In shingles, the pain may or may not persist
I'm supposed to visit a family where there is a one-year old child--probably should cancel, right?
You can wait and see if this is spreading
Yes, it is best to cancel your visit for the sake of the kid
OK as to canceling the visit. As to what I think is probably shingles, just double checking: you think ok for me to see doctor next Tuesday about this and probably no harm done in the delay?
If the rash and boils don't spread and if you don't see any pus points in these boils, you can wait it out
as Shingles is self limiting
no rash, though--just these huge clear blisters and hot red skin... does this surprise you?
No, it looks more like Shingles
OK. Now, if I see these blisters show signs of pus, then I should find a doctor? Because that would mean maybe not shingles, and maybe I would need medication?
If you see pus in these boils, it could mean secondary bacterial infection on top of shingles, which does happen, and yes, then you will need to see a doctor
Oh, boy. So to go back a bit: for shingles, is the treatment a steriod and/or an antibiotic?
For Shingles the treatment is antiviral
Antibiotic refers generally to antibacterials
Steroids can be of some help but not advisable
Shingles, viral. Bacterial infection, bacterial. Thanks. Now, does this pressure in the left ear seem to mean anything?
It could mean, you might be having a boil or two in the inner ear as well
a boil is a big clear blister?
Yes
Boils look like filled with clear liquid
they look like the blisters after a mild burn
Yes, well, it would have been a major sunburn the like of which I've never experienced, thank Well, that's what they are then. Can you think of anything else I should ask, or that we should c
Sorry, pressed wrong button. mean to say, thank God. Anything else I should consider
I don't think you need to consider anything else as of now
rarely some insect bites can result in such blisters/boils but I don't think that is the case in you
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