Objectives: Acute and chronic suppurative otitis media are relatively frequent conditions that require cautious management due to the potential for life-threatening consequences and high morbidity and mortality, especially in developing nations with low socioeconomic levels. In this work, we aimed to study complicated cases of suppurative otitis media whether acute or chronic types in our locality.
Patients and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that was carried out on 53 patients with different clinical forms of complications due to acute and chronic suppurative otitis media admitted to the ENT department at Sohag University Hospital within the duration between April 2017 and April 2020.
Results: We had 17 patients (32.1%) presented with an acute form of suppurative otitis media, and 36 (67.9%) presented with the chronic form. Forty-seven patients (88.7%) presented with extracranial complications, 4 patients (7.5%) presented with intracranial complications, and two patients (3.8%) presented with both extra and intracranial complications. Mastoid complications were the commonest and recorded in 40 cases (75.5%), followed by LMN facial palsy in 9 cases (17%), brain abscess in 4 cases (7.5%), lateral sinus thrombophlebitis in 2 cases (3.8%), labyrinthine fistula in 2 cases (3.8%), and lastly labyrinthitis in 1 patient (1.9%). More than one complication was reported in 8 cases.
Conclusions: Otitis media and its complications remain a significant medical problem in a developing country like Egypt (particularly Upper Egypt). Early and proper management is essential to minimize morbidity and mortality.