Tuberculous mastoiditis in a 2-month-old infant presenting with facial nerve palsy. Issue 12 (9th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McMaster, David; Din, Waqas BM; Ramalingaiah, Babu; Agrawal, Shailesh
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 13:Issue 12(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12-09
• Subjects: ear -- nose and throat/otolaryngology -- Infectious diseases -- TB and other respiratory infections -- paediatrics; Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-237606
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : We present a rare case of tuberculous mastoiditis in a 2-month-old infant. The patient presented with facial nerve palsy, fever and otorrhoea and was subsequently confirmed to have a Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Mastoiditis was confirmed with a CT scan of the head, and gastric aspirate analysis with the Xpert MTB/RIF assay (Cepheid, USA) rapidly confirmed tuberculosis (TB), allowing prompt initiation of anti-TB therapy. The patient is now recovering, with the initial facial nerve palsy resolved.