An unusual prevalence of complications of chronic suppurative otitis media in young adults.

The complications of chronic suppurative otitis media as seen in 117 patients are presented. Fifty per cent of the patients had cholesteatoma, and 28 per cent revealed complications. Two-thirds of these complications, especially the serious intracranial ones, were encountered in young females. This female predominance was attributed to late presentation because of social reasons, or to undue susceptibility to the destructive effect of cholesteatoma. Radical and modified radical operations were recommended to render the ears safe, as most of the patients came from distant rural areas and were judged to have poor compliance to report for regular checks.