Otomastoiditis-related facial nerve palsy.

A 9-year-old girl with persistent otitis media, despite antibiotic therapy developed a facial nerve palsy. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed ipsilateral mastoiditis, prompting admission for intravenous antibiotic and steroid therapies. Acute mastoiditis, uncommon in the post-antibiotic era, is usually diagnosed on physical examination findings, but two variants, masked mastoiditis or silent mastoiditis, may be difficult to appreciate clinically.