Question
What is tuberculous otitis media? What specific symptoms are present in clinical practice?
Answer
Tuberculous otitis media is a chronic tuberculous lesion in the tympanic cavity and mastoid antrum, with a slow progression. Primary complex is rare, usually secondary to tuberculosis elsewhere in the body, primarily pulmonary tuberculosis. The tuberculosis bacteria can directly invade the middle ear through the eustachian tube from the nasopharynx, or be disseminated hematogenously. Symptoms include painless discharge, hearing loss, changes in the tympanic membrane, and enlargement of cervical lymph nodes, among others. In severe cases, systemic symptoms may also be present.