Question

There’s a small hole on the side of my ear that occasionally smells and discharges pus. What could this be?

Answer

Congenital preauricular fistula is a common otolaryngological condition, caused by improper fusion of the small nodules on the first and second arches during the formation of the auricle in the embryonic stage, or incomplete closure of the first cleft. This condition manifests as a small hole in front of the auricle or in the soft cartilage of the external auditory canal, which sometimes discharges white, yellow, or smelly fluid.