ABSTRACT
Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common medical conditions of childhood and an important reason for seeking review in primary care. It is defined as the presence of inflammation in the middle ear, associated with an effusion and accompanied by the rapid onset of symptoms and signs of middle ear inflammation. Symptoms of AOM and/or Acute mastoiditis (AM) may be accompanied by neurological symptoms, including headache, nausea and vomiting, altered mental state, diplopia, seizures and extremity weakness. Otogenic hydrocephalus is characterised by the presence of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and may accompany other intracranial complications, such as lateral sinus thrombosis (LST) or intracranial sepsis. The treatment options for otogenic LST remain contentious and include combinations of intravenous antibiotics, anticoagulation and surgery. As with other intracranial complications of AOM, multidisciplinary care is mandatory. The most common surgical treatment is cortical mastoidectomy, potentially combined with ventilation tube insertion.
