Acute Otitis Media and Mastoiditis with Post-Auricular Abscess in a Five-Week-Old

Mastoiditis and post-auricular abscesses are exceptionally rare complications of acute otitis media in children less than six months of age. We report the case of a five-week-old boy who presented with protrusion of the right ear accompanied by surrounding erythema and edema. Head computed tomography (CT) revealed right acute otitis media with mastoid opacification and possible post-auricular abscess formation. After one day of intravenous antibiotics and corticosteroids, repeat head CT with contrast revealed right mastoid effusion, breech of the temporal bone cortex overlying the right mastoid air cells, and abscess formation. The disease course and treatment are described.