AURAL TUBERCULOSIS

Since the advent of antituberculous therapy, tuberculosis of the ear h as decreased in incidence; but of late, cases of both pulmonary and ot ologic tuberculosis are on the rise. in addition, the treatment of aur al tuberculosis is now more difficult due to resistance to one or more of the routinely used antituberculous pharmacotherapeutic agents. Urb an areas and selected populations have been particularly endangered by the re-emergence of this disease. In light of this developing situati on, three cases of aural tuberculous infections are presented. Typical and atypical presentations of the disease, including history, signs, symptoms, and radiographic findings are discussed, as are treatment op tions. The importance of aural tuberculosis as part of the general inc rease in incidence and resistance of the disease is examined.