Question
Recently, some people have felt unwell and are worried whether they have a congenital preauricular fistula. What are the treatment methods for congenital preauricular fistula?
Answer
Congenital preauricular fistula is a common congenital malformation often associated with adverse conditions during embryonic development. The symptoms include the discharge of foul-smelling, decayed secretions, and redness, swelling, pain, or formation of abscesses around the fistula opening when infected. Once inflamed, the fistula may recur and ulcerate. Treatment should involve timely regional antimicrobial therapy and avoid self-squeezing the secretions inside the fistula to prevent exacerbating the infection. During the infection period, only symptomatic regional antimicrobial therapy can be administered, but it cannot solve the problem fundamentally. Surgery is the only definitive treatment method.