Bullous myringitis: etiology and hearing loss

A prospective study was planned to evaluate the nature, site and prognosis of hearing loss in bullous myringitis. Thirty five patients were seen over a 4 year period. Audio-logical lest battery was obtained within 1 - 3 days from the onset of pain. Seventeen patients [48.69%] had sensorineural hearing loss [SNHL] of cochlear origin. Fourteen patients [40%] had mixed hearing loss, 76% of patients who came for follow up showed complete recovery of hearing after one month. Complement fixation titres were obtained for 5 different organisms in twelve patients. None of tested organisms was found to be causative agent for bullous myringitis. The findings of this study suggest that SNHL is an integral part of the disease. The manifestation of bullous myringitis may be nonspecific reaction related to infection by many agents. The implications of this study are discussed with review of the pertaining literature

Tuberculosis of the parotid gland

Two cases of tuberculous sialadenitis of the parotid gland are reported. Presentation simulated suppurative parotitis one case and slowly growing benign neoplasm in the other. One patient had systemic manifestations. Although skin tests were positive, they were insignificant since bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination is compulsory in Saudi Arabia. Smears and cultures for acid-fast bacilli were negative. Diagnosis was made by histologic analysis. Excisional biopsy as part of treatment proved better than incisional biopsy, with no fistula formation afterwards. The pathology and management of tuberculosis of the salivary glands are discussed, with review of pertaining literature

Deviated nasal septum in Saudi Newborns

Of 500 Saudi infants born at the Security Forces Hospital in Riyadh, 7.2% were found to have deviated nasal septum. Different fetal and maternal variables were tested for their influence on the incidence of congenital deviated septum, and duration of the second stage of labor was the only variable found to be significantly associated with septal deviation. Showed that factors other than trauma could produce congenital deviated nasal septum [i.e., pregnancy factors]