Case Report: Cancrum Auris in Children: Report of Two Cases

Abstract

Two cases of necrotising otitis externa (cancrum auris) associated with malnutrition in very young children are presented. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella spp were isolated from one of the children while P. aeruginosa and coliforms were cultured from swabs of the wound in the second case. Management consisted of wound debridement under local anaesthesia with application of both local and systemic antibiotics. Follow up showed good healing in one case and improvement in the other which was however, complicated by fibrosis and meatal stenosis. Malnutrition was most probably a predisposing factor in both cases.


Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics 2002; 29:119-121.