I. Tezcan et al., NECROTIZING OTITIS-EXTERNA, OTITIS-MEDIA, PERIPHERAL FACIAL PARALYSIS, AND BRAIN-ABSCESS IN A THALASSEMIC CHILD AFTER ALLOGENEIC BMT, Pediatric hematology and oncology, 15(5), 1998, pp. 459-462
Severe infection is one of the major complications in the early and la
te post-bone marrow transplantation period The authors report a thales
semic child who developed necrotizing otitis; externa and otitis media
, a very rare complication after bone marrow transplantation, and then
peripheral facial nerve paralysis and brain abscess in the early peri
od of bone marrow transplantation despite antibacterial and antifungal
prophylaxis. Necrotizing otitis media is characterized by necrosis an
d sloughing of considerable areas in the middle ear and adjacent tissu
es and is an unusual disorder because of today's antibiotics. Granuloc
ytopenia and background ear tissue exposed to previous repeated otitis
media attacks may be the predisposing factors in this case. The autho
rs conclude that the children with previous histories of recurrent oti
tis media should be prepared and monitored very carefully during bone
marrow transplantation because of the risk of necrotizing otitis media
, especially in the granulocytopenic period.