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J Pediatr Infect Dis 2020; 15(03): 144-147
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1645866
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Middle Ear Actinomycosis

Gil Coutinho
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, São João Hospital, Porto, Portugal
2   Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Department of Surgery and Physiology, University of Porto Medical School, Porto, Portugal
,
Jorge Spratley
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, São João Hospital, Porto, Portugal
2   Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Department of Surgery and Physiology, University of Porto Medical School, Porto, Portugal
3   Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Porto, Portugal
,
Inês Saldanha
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, São João Hospital, Porto, Portugal
2   Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Department of Surgery and Physiology, University of Porto Medical School, Porto, Portugal
,
Cristina Castro
4   Department of Pediatrics, São João Hospital, Porto, Portugal
,
Jorge Pinheiro
5   Department of Pathology, São João Hospital, Porto, Portugal
,
Margarida Santos
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, São João Hospital, Porto, Portugal
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

23 November 2017

17 March 2018

Publication Date:
03 May 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Middle ear actinomycosis is an atypical and exceedingly rare anaerobic infection. The authors report a case of a 7-year-old girl with persistent right side otalgia, conductive hearing loss, and headache. Otoscopic findings included a thickened, intact, and bulging tympanic membrane. Computed tomography imaging revealed soft tissue density filling the middle ear with areas of bone erosion. Typical sulfur granules were found on surgical exploration. Actinomycosis was diagnosed by histopathological examination. Penicillin was prescribed for 5 weeks followed by oral amoxicillin for 6 months. Recovery was uneventful and with a 2-year follow-up, no recurrence or complications were observed.

Keywords

otitis media - actinomycosis - sulfur granules
 

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