Sudden swelling and pain behind the ear may be caused by acute mastoiditis, lymphadenitis behind the ear, mumps and other diseases.
1. Acute mastoiditis: the mastoid is located behind the earlobe, when the body resistance is poor, the external pathogenic bacteria is strong or drainage is not smooth, it is easy to make otitis media development, spread to the mastoid, triggering mastoiditis, resulting in the patient’s ear suddenly appear behind the swelling, redness, and when pressed, there is obvious pain, which can be accompanied by headache, hearing loss, fever and other discomforts.
2. Post-auricular lymphadenitis: Inflammation in the middle ear cavity, nasal cavity, pharynx may lead to lymphatic drainage, which may trigger post-auricular lymphadenitis, resulting in sudden swelling and pain behind the ear, accompanied by fever, malaise, chills and other systemic symptoms. In severe cases, it may develop into an abscess with a fluctuating sensation and may even break down and flow pus.
3. Mumps: It is contagious and caused by mumps virus infection. After the onset of the disease, the patient can suddenly appear parotid gland enlargement, parotid gland enlargement is usually centered on the earlobe, expanding in all directions, there is obvious pain when touching, and will be accompanied by fever and other systemic symptoms.
In addition, there are other reasons that can cause sudden swelling and pain behind the ears, it is recommended to go to the hospital in time to identify the cause of the disease and receive treatment as soon as possible.