Key points
  1. We report otitis media in eight patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and no background history of otologic problems.
  2. Otitis media was the first manifestation of COVID-19 in the majority of patients in this case series.
  3. 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.
  4. Hearing loss was present in majority of patients, with conductive and mild sensory-neural loss at high frequency as the underlying mechanisms.
  5. Our findings suggest that otitis media should be considered a possible manifestation of COVID-19 during the current pandemic.