Idiopathic red ear syndrome: A rare case report

Red ear syndrome (RES) is a very rare disorder that is characterized by a unilateral or bilateral attack of paroxysmal burning sensation and reddening of the external ear. The duration of symptoms ranges from a few seconds to hours. It can occur spontaneously or be triggered by rubbing of the ear, heat or cold stimulation, brushing of hair, and neck movement. Diagnosis and treatment of this condition are challenging. The pathophysiology of RES is still unclear and hypotheses involving peripheral or central nervous system mechanisms have been proposed. RES is regarded as refractory to medical treatments, although some migraine preventative treatments have shown moderate benefit mainly in patients with migraine-related attacks. We report a case with Idiopathic RES who presented with paroxysmal redness of the bilateral pinnae partially benefitted by medical treatment.