Fatal meningitis and brain abscess resulting from foreign body-induced otomastoiditis.

Herein we report what we believe to be the only published case of an intracranial complication of otomastoiditis resulting from foreign-body material. The presence of a foreign body must be ruled out in any chronically draining ear, and all foreign material must be removed. The key to minimizing the morbidity of complications of infectious ear disease is early recognition and treatment. Early symptoms of complication include vertigo, new onset of headache or otalgia, or worsening headache or otalgia. Fever, malodorous ear drainage, and the presence of granulation tissue are warming findings. A high index of suspicion of infectious complications must be maintained in evaluating all patients with ear disease.