Otitis media triggered by Wegener’s granulomatosis: A case report and review of the literature

Introduction: This case report of unilateral otitis media in a 19-year-old female secondary to Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) highlights, for the audiologist, the importance of being aware of some of the less common etiologies of middle ear disease. Unilateral otitis media that resists usual forms of medical treatment may represent one of the earliest signs of WG, a potentially life-threatening disease. Case Report: A female patient, age 19, in previous good health, presented a moderate unilateral conductive hearing loss secondary to the sudden onset of unilateral otitis media, accompanied by painful sinusitis. However, the symptoms continued to worsen. By the conclusion of a 6-month period of illness, she was jointly diagnosed by an immunologist and rheumatologist as possessing WG, and treatment began immediately. With aggressive treatment, the patient has now been in remission for 5 years. Conclusion: It is important that audiologists be aware of the early signs to make an appropriate referral for treatment, particularly since they are usually among first to see these patients. Early diagnosis and referral are critical.