Many people think that otitis media only causes complications for children, but in fact, adults with otitis media can also have many complications, even meningitis and acute mastoiditis.
Doctors at the Central Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital examine a patient - Photo: D.LIEU
Complications of meningitis due to otitis media
Recently, the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases admitted a woman with serious complications due to untreated otitis media.
The patient is Ms. NTH (59 years old, in Ha Giang), before being admitted to the hospital, she started having symptoms such as high fever of 39°C, severe headache, nausea and vomiting.
She showed signs of decreased consciousness, drowsiness and was no longer aware of her surroundings. This condition progressed rapidly within just one day, forcing her family to take her to the emergency room.
Ms. H. was then transferred to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases in a state of severely impaired consciousness. Upon admission, the patient was placed on a ventilator to assist her breathing.
Through in-depth diagnostic tests including blood cultures and cerebrospinal fluid tests, it was confirmed that the patient had meningitis caused by pneumococcus bacteria. This is a type of bacteria that normally resides in the human respiratory tract but can cause disease when it enters the blood or other organs through injuries.
MSc. Ha Viet Huy, Department of Intensive Care, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said that pneumococcus is a type of bacteria that resides in the body, a common cause of many dangerous diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, etc.
However, this bacteria only causes disease when there are favorable conditions such as immune deficiency or damage in the body.
"In Ms. H's case, through further medical history, doctors discovered that the patient had suffered from otitis media for many years without thorough treatment. This could be the leading risk factor leading to pneumococcal meningitis," said Dr. Huy.
After 5 days of treatment, the patient's cerebrospinal fluid returned to normal, consciousness improved significantly and the patient was removed from the ventilator. The patient has now been discharged from the hospital.
According to Dr. Huy, pneumococcal bacteria often enter the meninges through direct pathways, such as from the middle ear or other lesions in the respiratory tract.
Many other dangerous complications
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Huy, head of the ENT department at the Central Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, also said that one of the common complications of acute otitis media is acute mastoiditis. This complication often occurs in patients with immunodeficiency or who are not treated properly.
In addition, acute otitis media can cause peripheral facial paralysis, meningitis, intracranial complications...
Improper treatment of acute otitis media can cause subacute or chronic otitis media with effusion. In many cases, it can even leave a hole in the eardrum, causing hearing loss and gradual degeneration of the middle ear mucosa.
Patients with chronic otitis media with effusion who do not respond to medical treatment may require surgery to place a ventilation tube. Patients with chronic otitis media with a perforated eardrum may require surgery to repair the eardrum and reconstruct the ossicles if damaged.
Is acute otitis media dangerous for children?Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-lon-cung-viem-tai-giua-coi-chung-bien-chung-viem-mang-nao-20250306102129011.htm
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