عوارض اينتراكرانيال اوتيت مدياي مزمن در بيماران بستري شده در بيمارستان امام خميني اهواز

Intracranial complications of chronic otitis media in patients admitted to Imam Khomeini hospital, Ahvaz, south of Iran

Introduction: Recently, intracranial complications of chronic otitis media (COM) have been significantly decreased due to prompt diagnosis and proper use of antibiotics. The aim of this study was to investigate the etiology and incidcnce of intracranial complications of chronic otitis media. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, between 1995 and 2007, patients with signs and symptoms indicative of intracranial complications were followed clinically. Result: Among 560 patients admitted with COM, 8 patients had intracranial complication. All of patients were men. The mean age was 30.05 years. Otorrhea exacerbation, fever and headache were the most common presenting symptoms. The most common complicalions were epidural abscess, brain abscess, cerebellar abscess and meningitis respectively. Conclusion: Although nowadays, intracranial complications after COM rarely occur, they should be strongly considered in patients with symptoms such as lever, headache and otorrhea exacerbation.