Polychondritis

Etiology

  • Uncommmon auto-immune d/o affecting cartilage

Symptoms

  • Subacute inflammation of cartilage of the ear (can wax and wane)
  • Can also affect nose → stuffiness, epistaxis, d/c
  • Trachea → stridor/sob, cough, wheezing; eyes, joints, kidneys, other

Physical Exam Findings

  • Stridor
  • Wheezing
  • Red eye
  • Hearing loss
  • Saddle-nose from cartilage collapse
  • Ear pain and swelling (spares lobe)
  • Joint pain and swelling