Tympanogenic labyrinthitis and meningitis

Abstract

Otitis media can result in pathological changes not only in the middle ear but also the inner ear and meninges. Paparella et all have described silent otitis media as pathological conditions behind an intact tympanic membrane that may be “undetected” or “undetectable” especially in chronic cases. Evidence also indicates that insidious labyrinthine’ and meningitic changes3 can be associated with or result from silent otitis media. Cochlear dysfunction has been associated with chronic otitis media (COM), purulent otitis media (POM), and even otitis media with effusion by Paparella et a1,‘s4 English et a1,5 Munker,’ Arnold et a1,7 and Harada et al.’ It was shown by Paparella et al” that otitis media led to gross invasion through the round window and consequently resulted in complete cochlear deafness. Meningitis is the most common intracranial complication of otitis media.“*” It follows either an acute or chronic episode of otitis media. Inflammation of the meninges can occur by direct infection from the middle ear or by direct bony erosion. Hematogenous dissemination also plays an important role in bacterial meningitis.