Acute onset of abducens nerve palsy in a child with prior history of otitis media: a misleading sign of Gradenigo syndrome.
Gradenigo syndrome in children during otitis media is a very rare complication since the use of antibiotics: nevertheless, it must be taken into account in case of otitis media, abducens nerve paralysis and facial pain in regions innervated by the first and second division of trigeminal nerve. We report the case of a 4-year-old boy whose neurological signs and clinical history prompted us to entertain a diagnosis of Gradenigo syndrome, which was not confirmed by CT and MRI findings, revealing otomastoiditis and sinus thrombosis.
Villa
Giovanna
G
Emergency Department of Paediatrics G. Gaslini Children's Hospital Largo G. Gaslini, 5 16147 Genova, Italy. ninnivilla@yahoo.it
Lattere
Mario
M
Rossi
Andrea
A
Di Pietro
Pasquale
P
D020434:Abducens Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012851:Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents