Temporal lobe abscess – as a result of COVID pandemic

Abstract

Complications of chronic otitis media have reduced substantially in the postantibiotic era. The complications are described as being intracranial and extracranial. Intracranial complications are rarer epidemiologically; however, the recent COVID pandemic has led to widespread delay among the general populace from seeking therapy. We present a case where a 22-year-old male failed to seek timely intervention for otorrhea and developed a temporal lobe abscess. The patient was subsequently managed through an intact canal wall mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty with drainage of pus through the transmastoid approach. On follow-up, there was an adequate resolution of the abscess with a well-healed tympanic cavity.