Intracranial complications involve children and young people more often than adults (1, 2). They mainly occur in the course of acute otitis media, rarely -in chronic otitis media with cholosteatoma or granulation tissue (1, 3). The most common complication is meningitis (2, 4, 5). The characteristic symptoms of meningitis and encephalitis are: persistent fever (including septic fever), headache, nausea and vomiting, confusion, agitation, seizures and meningeal signs (neck stiffness, positive Brudzinski sign). The predominant pathogens are the most common intracranial complications pneumococcus, Pseudomonas, sticks G (-), rarely stick G (+) and fungus (1, 4). The infection spreads to the interior of the skull directly to the inflamed bone, its natural or traumatic loss, by veins or anatomical connections with ear structures and skull structures. The course of complications depends on a patient’s immune response, coexisting diseases, treatment, pathogenic bacteria and their sensitivity to antibiotics.

A 4-year-old boy was admitted to Children’s Hospital in Warsaw with severe conditions. 6:45 because of the seizure of the short-term loss of consciousness with associated vomiting, which occurred at night. A 3-day Medical history: fever to 40°C, headache, and catharal otitis media left, the patient isn’t treated with an antibiotic. In the case the patient suffered from otitis several times. Last otitis media treated with antibiotics a month ago. In addition, this history is without any strains When examined, the patient conscious, pale skin with features of dehydration, stiff neck, eyes flat, narrow lazily react to light, exotropia. Lung and heart auscultation was normal. Efficient respiratory and circulatory. BP 115/80 mmHg, HR 100 bpm, breaths 30/min, saturation of 100% without oxygen, TPR 38.6°C. In laboratory studies increased markers of inflammation and D-dimers (tab. 1).

Taken blood culture and cerebrospinal fluid before turning on intravenous antibiotics (Vancomycin and Biotaksym). About hrs. 9:08 made head CT with contrast. It was airless mastoid cells, and cells of the tympanic cavity top of the pyramid of the temporal bone on the left side, segmental breaking the continuity of lamina inner the mastoid process around the left sigmoid sinus. Brain tissue without change (fig. 1).

Because of the severe condition of the patient and the lack of anesthesiological consent for general anesthesia on the day of admission, bilateral paracentesis. Obtained material is sent for microbiological examination. Over the next few days of hospitalization were observed purulent leakage from the left ear. Within four hours of hospitalization (at approx. 10:40) the patient’s condition deteriorated. Intensified disturbances of consciousness and seizures, the boy anxious, agitated, stiff neck from unbent body position, eyes widened. There were breathing problems. After the anesthesiological consultation, the patient was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit and was intubated. Observed characteristics of highintracranial pressure with very high blood pressure and BP 180/130 mmHg, with an accompanying bradycardia, impaired peripheral perfusion. It has been found a high degree of centralization of the blood circulation. Drugs for the treatment included decongestants. The two day hospital stay after learning the symptoms of intracranial hypertension, and clotting disorders equalized again lumbar puncture was performed, which confirmed the diagnosis of maningitis (tab. 2). The inoculation of bacteria not cultured fluid. However, in the inoculation of blood showed etiology Streptococcus pneumoniae. In many cultures produced they were found to colonize a large bacterial flora (tab. 3).

Surgical treatment (in the 2^nd day) consisted of making a wide left-hand antromastoidectomia. Granulation tissue filling the mastoid cells were sent for histopathological examination. In the area of the sigmoid sinus, a fistula bone and a pus were found, in the aditus ad the antrum of a granulation tissue that was removed.

After three days of hospitalization the boy still with severe condition. An incident occured again: symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, i.e. dilated pupils, anizokoria OL 3 mm > OP 2 mm, shaking his left hand and symptoms of cardiovascular, three points on the Glasgow scale. Control head CT was performed (fig. 2). It was a large diffuse swelling of the brain, base of the brain vessels and fluid spaces tight, light chambers III and IV invisible, visible areas of different density. In this study, there was no resistance index and angioCT venous sinus thrombosis (fig. 3).

Neurological consultation stated: hemiparesis on the right, swelling of the brain (without impaction) in the course of the meningitis, pupils quite narrow, even, do not respond to light. Abnormal EEG, low voltage. The head CT examinations were gradual resolution of edema. Because of slight improvement in the patient’s condition, a permanent mechanical ventilation, breathing CMV ventilator breaths own suppressed, poor neurological status and lack of saliva swallowing after tracheostomy in 20 day of hospitalization and percutaneous gastrostomy (PEG) at the age of 38. During hospitalization, intensive antibiotic used 20 nights: Biotaksym, vancomycin, diflukan, then 9 nights: augmentin and 30 nights without antibiotic treatment. The patient’s condition improved. The boy begins to respond to pain and touch, he opens his eyes, convulsions subsided, there were breathing their own 28/min. Ultrasound examination of the vocal folds of the larynx mobility symmetrical correct. Exchanged tracheostomy tube to tube phoniatric at age 47, and then performed removal of the tube (52 day). The oy with hemiparesis on the right, with a history of sepsis and meningitis, spinal transferred to the pediatric unit, and then qualified for rehabilitation.

Intracranial complications occur in 0.5-4% of all otitis media (6). Now the most common intracranial complication in children is meningitis (2-4). Especially exposed to meningitis in the course of otitis are children with congenital middle ear and facial defects. Frequent pathological connection between the middle ear and the middle and back of the skull cavity can be stated (7). The meningitis and encephalitis may occur as inflammation of the serum with a good prognosis, which persists after the operation ear, and turn antibiotic. Primary serous inflammation of tires in young children is a consequence of stopping pus in the tympanic cavities and occurs at the beginning of otitis (8). However, bacterial meningitis often the etiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae are the main cause of neurological complications (5). In patients with suspected inflammation of meningitis always perform the test cerebrospinal fluid, which is the only criterion for distinguishing. You should also perform imaging studies of temporal bone CT, which allows the assessment of the severity of inflammatory ear and concomitant bone destruction. Treatment consists of removal of the focus of purulent otitis media and intensive intravenous antibiotic therapy-III generation cephalosporin with vancomycin. The treatment can also consider giving rifampicin or meropenem (5, 6). The treatment regimen is a consequence of the increasing prevalence of bacteria resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins I and II generation (5, 6, 9). Now intracranial complications are stilla difficult diagnostic and therapeutic problem because of non-specyfic symptoms associated with common antibiotics. Widely used antibiotics can cause inflammation in the transition state of subacute and latency of infection. Complications may occur more frequently with increasing resistance to antibiotics and the growing number of immunocompromised patients. The prognosis of intracranial complications is still significant, and the mortality rate amounts 5-15% (6, 10).