THE RED EAR SYNDROME

The complaint of a painful, burning, red ear may be associated with ir ritation of the third cervical root, temporomandibular joint dysfuncti on, or thalamic syndrome. It may also occur without obvious structural cause in response to touch or heat. The condition may be an example o f the ABC (Angry Back-firing C-nociceptor) syndrome with the increase in ear temperature being caused by the antidromic release of vasodilat or peptides.