Symptoms:

A painful, red ear is the most common symptom. At first the infection will look like cellulitis (a skin infection), but it rapidly gets worse and involves the perichondrium.

The redness usually surrounds an area of injury, such as a cut or scrape. There may also be fever, and -- in more severe cases -- fluid draining from the wound.

Signs and tests:

The diagnosis of perichondritis is usually made by history and physical exam. If there is a history of trauma to the ear and the ear is red and very tender, then the presumed diagnosis is perichondritis. There may be an abnormal change in the shape of the ear.