Big red swollen ear a symptom of an ear infection?

[MaMight]

Ds has an enormous comedy big red swollen rubbery ear.

Thought maybe insect bite or sting, but can't find any bite or sting.

Took him to the doc who was writing the prescription for antibiotics before we'd even sat down. She says ear infection.

I've never heard of ear infections manifesting as huge red swollen outside ears.

Have you?

It could well be an infection. I picked up a few leaflets from the audiology at the local hospital the other day and the 'ear health' one said this:

Otitis Interna - inflammation/infection of the inner ear [the most serious type]

Otitis media - inflammation/infection of the middle ear, commonly seen in children, often leads to 'glue ear'

Otitis externa - inflammation/infection of the outer ear, usually due to bites, stings, scratches, infected ear piercings etc. So basically he might have been stung or had a scratch and then he's touched it with a dirty fingernail or something and that has set up an infection.

If the ear is hot and painful, here is a good tip. Take a flannel and soak it with very cold water [leave the cold tap to run]. Wring it out until it is fairly damp, but not dripping. Place it in a greaseproof sandwich bag [can use plastic but they tend to stick]. Then freeze until solid. When you want to use it, wrap a teacloth around it and apply to the affected ear, as it thaws it will mould itself to the ear. I keep 2 in my freezer for first aid use, great for joints.