A 5-year-old boy with a history of acute otitis media for one week now presents with fever, postauricular tenderness, and swelling behind the right ear. On examination, the right pinna is pushed downwards and outwards. What is the most likely diagnosis?

• A Bezold's abscess
• B Furunculosis of the external ear
• C Acute mastoiditis ✓
• D Suppurative labyrinthitis

Explanation

Acute mastoiditis complicates acute otitis media, presenting with postauricular swelling, tenderness, and displacement of the pinna downwards and outwards due to periostitis over the mastoid process. Bezold's abscess causes neck swelling from pus tracking along the sternocleidomastoid. Furunculosis is limited to the external ear canal. Suppurative labyrinthitis presents with profound vertigo and sensorineural hearing loss without external pinna displacement.

Reference: Dhingra and Dhingra's Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.