A Rare Combination of Complications of Otitis Media: Postauricular and Parotid Abscess with Otitis Externa

Abstract Complications of acute otitis media are rare but can occur in the presence of risk factors such as diabetes. We present a case of an adult male who presented with postaural and parotid abscess with otitis externa following acute otitis media. A 35-year-old male, a newly diagnosed diabetic, presented with swelling in the left parotid region and discharge from the left ear for 2 weeks. He reported swelling behind the ear for 1 week. Examination revealed a 3 cm × 2 cm tender swelling in the left parotid region and a diffuse swelling in the left postauricular region. The external auditory canal was edematous with discharge. Ultrasonography (USG) indicated a left parotid abscess. High-resolution computed tomoghraphy temporal bone showed mastoid sclerosis and cortical erosion, with postauricular subperiosteal abscess. Culture revealed Citrobacter koseri and Klebsiella pneumonia . He was treated with intravenous cefuroxime and ciprofloxacin. Aspiration of the abscesses was performed, followed by cortical mastoidectomy.