How rare is a brain abscess / infection as a complication of a chronic suppurative otitis media? and what are symptoms to look out for?

11% of the US population suffers from acute otitis media in any given year. Of that number, only about 4.6% go on to develop suppurative OM. (about 31 million). 1500-2000 persons annually have brain abscesses. These can be cause not only by OM, but also mastoiditis, dental diseases and sinusitis. This means that the likelihood of developing a brain abscess from OM is less than 0.00006%. Very rare.

Dr. Kratzberg provides compelling statistics. In other words, if otitis media is treated appropriately, the emergence of a brain abscess is quite rare indeed, and there are NO symptoms to "look out for".

Thank God with the era of Antibiotics,If otitis media is treated properly it will prevent Brain Abscess.But in untreated Acute Otitis nedia the infection can travel upwards and affect Temporal lobe or Cerebellum.It is rather rare in United States and other developed countries where medical care is easily available.In my 57 years of medical practice in India,England and USA i have not seen even one