A therapeutic approach of isolated suppurative labyrinthitis complicated by meningitis

Erika Celis-Aguilar, Lucero Escobar-Aispuro, Jose M Alarid-Coronel, Alan Burgos-Paez

Indian Journal of Otology 2018 24(2):125-128

Suppurative labyrinthitis (SL), a major complication of otitis media, results from a bacterial infection spread through the round window to the inner ear. The most frequent symptoms are hearing loss, vertigo, nystagmus, nausea, and vomiting. This infection poses a significant risk of meningitis due to direct communication of the perilymph to the cerebrospinal fluid through the cochlear aqueduct. There are scarce data in the literature documenting isolated SL as the only cause of meningitis. There are no data describing which treatment is more effective, how often this complication occurs, or when to expect this fatal outcome. We report a case that developed from a labyrinthine suppurative infection to a late-onset meningeal infective disease. This case highlights the importance of correct and timely treatment of SL with early mastoidectomy. The indications of mastoidectomy in these cases are discussed, with a brief review of the literature.

https://ift.tt/2CscQno