An unusual presentation of group A streptococcus infection in a newborn: with acute mastoiditis with no obvious clinical manifestation

Abstract

Abstract Acute mastoiditis (AM) is rarely seen in newborns. It is characterized by retroauricular pain, swelling, tenderness and protrusion of the auricle. This is the first report of the neonatal mastoiditis in a 17-day-old term neonate with no obvious clinical manifestation of mastoiditis and no associated malformation of the ears and mastoids. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the temporal bones revealed right mastoiditis without osteitis, destruction of the mastoid bone or abscess formation. Discharge culture revealed streptococcus A colonies sensitive to ampicillin, ceftriaxone, vancomycin and chloramphenicol. She was successfully treated with intravenous ampicillin and ceftizoxime. No complication or recurrence was reported.