Abstract
Key points 1- We report otitis media in eight patients with coronavirus
disease-2019 (COVID-19) and no background history of otologic problems.
2- Otitis media was the first manifestation of COVID-19 in the majority
of patients in this case series. 3- Effusion in the middle ear was
present in six patients, three patients had typical signs of acute
otitis media, with one patient having tympanic membrane perforation. 4-
Hearing loss was present in majority of patients, with conductive and
mild sensory-neural loss at high frequency as the underlying mechanisms.
5- Our findings suggest that otitis media should be considered a
possible manifestation of COVID-19 during the current pandemic.