Possible cyst

[KeepIT100247]

Please reply if any info or any similar incident but I have a Lima bean sized solid knot in the rt upper ear cartalige and have another one that is forming right next to it same spot no pain it's been there since November 21,2010 came up while incarcerated after the first couple weeks it's been there ever since possibly has grown in size since then.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Sorry replied to a different post first.

This can be a cyst or a benign skin growth. For this cyst like growth, I would suggest you to get a FNAB done. FNAB is aspiration of the material of the glands which is done by a fine gauge needle (22 or 25 gauge) and a syringe. This will confirm the diagnosis.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.

I can understand your concern but once chicken pox occurs, it provides life long immunity. What your colleague had was shingles. Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles occurs in people who have had chickenpox and represents a reactivation of the dormant varicella-zoster virus.

You may get herpes zoster infection and you may transmit the virus to a person who has never had chicken pox.

Regarding chicken pox vaccine, it is recommended for all children under the age of 13 who have not had chickenpox. It is also recommended for all adolescents and adults who have not been vaccinated and have not had chickenpox. If you have had chickenpox there is no need for you to get the vaccine. Prevention of shingles in people who have contracted chickenpox is difficult, since the factors that trigger reactivation are not yet defined. Moreover shingles vaccine is given in adults 60 years or older.

Your wife should talk to her doctor and get the second dose of the vaccine before she becomes pregnant. Chicken pox vaccine is contraindicated in pregnancy as it is a live vaccine. So she should get vaccinated earlier.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Wishing you good health.