What do i do for my daughters swollen cartilage? my daughter got her left cartilage pierced last saturday and we had to take her earing out because her ear is swollen and it is begining to make her jaw hurt as well. we have tried ice and naproxen the swel

Unfortunately, : Unfortunately, this is one of the problems with piercing ear cartilage. Naproxen and ice are not sufficient to take care of this problem. The beginnings of a process called perichondritis (inflammation of the lining of the cartilage) is most likely taking place. Left untreated, severe infection can lead to wrestler's ear deformity (cartilage destruction otherwise known as cauliflower ear) as the end result and a very sick patient until the treatment has stabilized things. Treatment usually consists of antibiotics and oral steroids. In an occasional case, surgery may have to be performed if an abscess develops. Needless to say, an evaluation soon by an ENT doctor will hopefully minimize the need for some of the above.

Please : Please bring her to a physician who can start anti-pseudomonal and staphylococcal antibiotics like Ciprofloxacin and bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim). A chondritis is a serious infection which may spread without proper and prompt treatment. An er, infectious disease or otolaryngology physician should be helpful in this matter.

Piercing gone wrong: Piercings thru skin are harmful, but through cartilage are dangerous. And the sterility of the procedures at 'mall pagodas' is often questionablel. The worst cartilage outcome, suppurative chondritis (infection of the cartilage) is difficult to manage and may often lead to severe cartilage loss and disfigurement. With symptoms described, it's time to see a qualified ENT or oms surgeon.