Cauliflower Ear: Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Cauliflower ear is a common injury suffered by wrestling and rugby players. This painful condition causes the ear to swell up and become filled with fluid. If not treated quickly and properly, the ear can become infected. In order to make sure the ear is properly drained and treated, you should always visit a doctor. It is never recommended that you drain the ear yourself, as this drastically increases the risk of infection. When playing rugby or wrestling, you should always wear protective headgear to protect against cauliflower ear.

Things You'll Need

• Ice bag
• Compress

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Instructions

• 1

  Exert hard, direct pressure on the ear as soon as the injury occurs by holding the ice bag against it. This will help reduce the swelling as well as numb the pain.

• 2

  Have the fluid buildup in the ear drained by a doctor. Trying to drain the ear yourself will likely make the condition worse. In addition, the doctor should give you a compress, which wraps tightly around the ear and keeps constant pressure on it.

• 3

  Wear the compress for 10 days. This will help the ear heal quickly and naturally. You should also take any medication or antibiotics prescribed by the doctor to reduce the risk of infection.