Dysphagia due to necrotizing otitis externa

Dwivedi, Rajesh; Rasquinha, Melroy; Harwood, Rowan

Abstract

An 88-year-old man presented with delirium, and subsequently developed hoarseness and oropharyngeal dysphagia. This was due to skull-based osteomyelitis from necrotizing otitis externa (NOE), causing lower cranial nerve (X, XII) palsies and venous sinus thrombosis. Diagnosis was delayed as the patient reported no otalgia, had an almost normal looking external auditory canal and was not diabetic. He deteriorated and died despite intravenous antibiotics. We need a high index of suspicion for NOE and its complications in patients presenting with otolaryngeal symptoms.

Citation

Dwivedi, R., Rasquinha, M., & Harwood, R. (2021). Dysphagia due to necrotizing otitis externa. Age and Ageing, 50(3), 1004-1005. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afab034

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 3, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Mar 3, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Deposit Date: Nov 19, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 20, 2024
• Journal: Age and Ageing
• Print ISSN: 0002-0729
• Electronic ISSN: 1468-2834
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 1004-1005
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afab034
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/36305520
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/50/3/1004/6157445