Intractable diarrhoea of infancy and latent otomastoiditis.
In 16 infants with intractable diarrhoea, latent otomastoiditis was found in 9 (3 at necropsy and 6 at myringotomy-antrotomy). In 5 of the 6 operated group, surgery was followed by a striking cessation of the diarrhoea and with weight gain. It is concluded that (1) latent otomastoiditis may be a perpetuating factor in intractable diarrhoea; (2) myringotomy-antrotomy should be considered if other forms of treatment have failed, and especially if there is leucocytosis; (3) mastoiditis with diffuse osteitis seems to be associated with a poor prognosis.
D001835:Body Weight; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008417:Mastoiditis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000601:surgery