title: Tuberculous otitis media -- a diagnostic dilemma.
abstract: Tuberculous otitis media can provide a diagnostic challenge even to the most astute and experienced clinician. The rarity of the condition and its propensity to masquerade as commoner otological conditions further delays diagnosis and treatment. We present the case of a 22-year-old female who presented with chronic aural discharge, unilateral hearing loss and recurrent hemifacial paralysis. The paper highlights the difficulty in diagnosis and stresses the need for a high index of suspicion in cases resistant to the common methods of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital Aintree, Lower Lane, Liverpool L9 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Bhalla
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rothburn
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Swift
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011718:Pyrazinamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D011718:Pyrazinamide; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin