Bilateral middle ear tuberculosis – case report

Introduction: Tuberculous otitis media is not a common disease, especially in developed countries. Its low incidence and manifestations mimicking other diseases often result in delayed diagnosis and wrong treatment. Case report: A 29-year-old women presented to the ENT department with a history of bilateral acute otitis media not responding to regular treatment. Multiple tympanic membrane perforations noticed in the course of disease suggested tuberculosis. To confirm the diagnosis multiple examinations were performed: Quantiferon Test, traditional culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and genetic test. The patient responded well to anti-TBC treatment, however some of the damage is irreversible and some requires adequate surgical treatment. This case shows that it is important to remain watchful, as tuberculous otitis media is often misdiagnosed. Proper early diagnosis may prevent further damage as chemotherapy is usually very effective and in most cases complete healing is achieved