Key points
- We report otitis media in eight patients with coronavirus disease-2019
(COVID-19) and no background history of otologic problems.
- Otitis media was the first manifestation of COVID-19 in the majority
of patients in this case series.
- Effusion in the middle ear was present in six patients, three patients
had typical signs of acute otitis media, with one patient having
tympanic membrane perforation.
- Hearing loss was present in majority of patients, with conductive and
mild sensory-neural loss at high frequency as the underlying
mechanisms.
- Our findings suggest that otitis media should be considered a possible
manifestation of COVID-19 during the current pandemic.