clinical features

Last reviewed 07/2021

Symptoms may include:

  • pain from the site of the lesion - usually very severe and exacerbated by pressure on the tragus or movement of the pinna

  • slight deafness - as a result of the occlusion of the meatus by the furuncle (1)

The furuncle may be too small to be visible but the introduction of an aural speculum often causes intense pain (1).

When the furuncle is larger, it may be seen as a red swelling in the outer meatus Later the swelling will present as a white or yellow centre filled with pus (1).

Rarely a patient might experience a sudden relief of pain when the furuncle bursts (1).

Reference: