A 52-year-old housewife with a chief complaint of vertigo and right tinnitus, suddenly fell into a coma 12 days after admission and died in 24 hours. Autopsy revealed massive hemorrhagic necrosis of both adrenal cortices, disseminated intravascular coagulation in various organs, and otic meningitis.
These findings suggested the possibility that otic meningitis caused WaterhouseFriderichsen syndrome.
The purpose of this case report is to describe Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome due to otic meningitis and to call attention to the early signs of impending neurotologic complications.
