Abstract
Clinical findings in 36 cases (39 ears) of acute otitis media accompanied by inner ear damage were studied. The age of the patients ranged between 4 and 80 years old (average 44.3±15.8). Twenty-seven patients complained of otalgia, and most patients were fouund to have high-tone sensorineural hearing loss. Complete recovery of hearing (recovery of air conduction within 20 dB or to the level within 15 dB of normal side) was obtained in 25 ears and remarkable recovery (recovery of bone conduction 15 dB or greater at least in one frequency) in the remaining 14 ears. Bacterial examination was done in all cases, and 16 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 3 of Group A streptococci, and 3 of Haemophilus influenzae were recovered. Of the 16 strains of S. pneumoniae, 6 were mucoid type S. pneumoniae. These are invasive and virulent strains, which caused severe otalgia and sensorineural hearing loss of patients. These strains are resistant to cephems but susceptible to penicillins. So when cephems were selected as a first choice, healing of the otitis media tend to be delayed. We should have bacterial examination to select adequate antibiotics.
