Abstract
Red ear syndrome is a rare or underdiagnosed condition characterized by paroxysmal attacks of burning pain and reddening of the external ear. The pathophysiology is yet unclear, and few pediatric cases have been reported in the literature. Treatment remains one of the most challenging features of this condition.
An 8-year-old boy presented to the neurology department of the National Children’s Hospital, Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, with a history of recurrent bilateral swelling of the external ears. Physical examination was remarkable for pain on palpation of the temporomandibular joint and wearing of the teeth, and a history of long-term bruxism could be elicited, leading to the diagnosis of secondary red ear syndrome.
Secondary pediatric red ear syndrome has rarely been reported in the literature. A thorough evaluation is essential to rule out secondary causes, and a multimodal treatment approach is advised due to the drug-resistant nature of this condition.
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Pilar Durán and Andrés Umaña were responsible for the acquisition of the data and drafted the initial manuscript, analyzed and interpreted the data, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. María del Carmen Navas and Adriana Ulate analyzed and interpreted the data for the work and reviewed and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
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Approval for the publication of this paper was granted by the Bioethics Department of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, with the number CENDEISSS-AB-0589–2022.
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Umaña-Calderón, A., Duran-Monge, P., del Carmen Navas-Aparicio, M. et al. Secondary Red Ear Syndrome in a Pediatric Patient: a Case Report. SN Compr. Clin. Med. 5, 8 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42399-022-01349-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42399-022-01349-0