염증성 귀질환에서 발견된 면봉솜: 증례 4

Cotton swabs found in otogenic infectious disease: 4 cases

Foreign bodies, especially cotton swabs of the external auditory canal are frequent condition encountered by otolaryngologists. Unexpected cotton swabs may cause otogenic infection, which can be severe as skull base osteomyelitis, a life-threatening disease in healthy subjects. We describe 4 different cases from simple auditory canal foreign body to otogenic skull base osteomyelitis and temporal meningitis. During the hospital course, unexpected cotton swabs were found in the external auditory canal in all cases. This report suggests that when severe otogenic infection is diagnosed in patients without any underlying disease, presence of foreign body must be suspected, leading to thorough review of history and physical examination.