Intracranial Complications of Purulent Sinusitis and Antromastoiditis in Children

Introduction: Unfortunately, in Belarus it is not marked tendencies to reduction of intracranial complications rhinogenous and otogenic etiolog.

Material and Methods: From 1992 to 2004 there have been 9 children with intracranial complications of rhinogenous etiology (two of them with a brain abscess) and 12 otogenic (3 with a purulent meningitis; 6 with sinusthrombosis, and 3 children with a sepsis before the age of 1) carried out in the clinic of the Byelorussian State Medical University.

Results: Prevalence of general inflammation symptoms beyond local ones, infringement of consciousness, the indistinct anamnesis, and long supervision by pediatricians concerning AIDs were the reasons for late presentation to the ENT clinic. To all patients underwent urgent surgery which volumes depend on character and localization of an inflammation and intracranial center has been executed. Two cases needed the help of neurosurgeons. There were two deaths.

Conclusion: Indistinct symptoms of purulent inflammation of ENT organs and unreasonable antibacterial therapy led to the delayed examination by ENT specialists and development of intracranial complications. Purulent otitis media in a child younger than 1 year leads to quick generalization of an infection and development of a sepsis.