Facial fuzz and funny findings: Facial hair causing otalgia and oropharyngeal pain

Abstract

Three patients with referred otalgia and/or oropharyngeal pain due to ectopic facial hair found in either the external auditory canal or oropharynx were treated at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Disorders. In each of these patients, annoying symptoms were relieved by simple removal of the misplaced facial hair. Sensory nerve innervation of the external ear and oropharynx and their interrelationship in referred pain are described in detail following the case reports.