Tuberculous mastoiditis in a 2-month-old infant presenting with facial nerve palsy

Abstract

We present a rare case of tuberculous mastoiditis in a 2-month-old infant. The patient presented with facial nerve palsy, fever and otorrhoea and was subsequently confirmed to have a Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Mastoiditis was confirmed with a CT scan of the head, and gastric aspirate analysis with the Xpert MTB/RIF assay (Cepheid, USA) rapidly confirmed tuberculosis (TB), allowing prompt initiation of anti-TB therapy. The patient is now recovering, with the initial facial nerve palsy resolved.