Case #7 -- Acute Illness in a Patient With Recurrent Ear Infections

L Kumar, MD, L Crews, MD, R Gacek, MD, ED Weber, MD, R Wesenberg, MD

August 28, 2003

Introduction

A 13-year-old white male with a long history of recurrent otitis media and status post bilateral myringostomy tubes presented with a 1-week history of increasing earache and mucopurulent discharge from his right ear.

Ear pain was associated with right-sided facial, neck, and diffuse back pain. He had fever of 101°F (38.3°C) associated with decreasing responsiveness 2 days prior to admission. There were no associated episodes of rhinorrhea, cough, vomiting, or diarrhea. He denied any trauma or drug exposure.