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[Malignant otitis externa with diabetes mellitus insulin-dependent patients]

D Lazitsh1, S Jeshitsh

  • 1Immergency Center--Department for Intensive Endocrinology Care, Institute for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade.

Srpski Arhiv Za Celokupno Lekarstvo
|November 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Malignant otitis externa is a severe infection of the outer ear canal, often caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This case highlights a rare presentation in a young patient with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Malignant otitis externa (MOE) is a serious soft tissue infection of the outer ear canal.
  • It typically affects elderly patients with diabetes mellitus, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the most common pathogen.

Observation:

  • This report details a rare case of MOE in a 19-year-old female.
  • The patient had insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, a significant risk factor for MOE.

Findings:

  • The case demonstrates that MOE can occur in younger individuals with diabetes.
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the likely causative agent, consistent with typical MOE epidemiology.

Implications:

  • Early recognition and management of MOE are crucial, regardless of patient age.
  • This case underscores the importance of glycemic control in diabetic patients to prevent severe infections like MOE.

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