Helios Duisburg: How an ear infection can lead to paralysis

27/11/2025 12:11

When four-year-old Jayce-Sukree complains of an earache one morning, nobody suspects what the next few days have in store for the family. The discomfort seems harmless at first, because a short time later Jayce is playing happily again. But ten days later comes a shock: the little boy complains of another earache on Sunday morning and his mother discovers that his face is paralyzed on one side. This caused the family great concern and they immediately sought medical help.

At the Helios Hospital in Duisburg, the medical ENT team on duty immediately takes care of little Jayce Sukree. The diagnosis is made quickly: A severe middle ear infection has spread to the petrous bone - the bone behind the ear - and led to an inflammation of the petrous bone, known as mastoiditis. "Such serious complications from middle ear inflammation are rare, but they can be dangerous if you don't act immediately," explains Dr. Florian Sack, Senior Consultant at the ENT Clinic. An operation is scheduled within a very short time. "Our aim is to bring the inflammation under control quickly by inserting a tube into the eardrum and drilling out the bone behind the ear," says the ENT specialist. Jayce's mother is very tense during the operation. The experienced hands of the medical team bring the desired success: the inflammation is stopped and the healing process begins. Just a few hours after the operation, Jayce shows the first signs of progress, and just a few days later he is well on the way to making a full recovery.

For the family, the experience is a wake-up call. "You often think it's just a minor thing when children have an earache," says Jayce's mother. "But we never thought it could be so serious. We are incredibly grateful for the quick and compassionate help here at the clinic." Dr. Sack emphasizes how important it is to pay attention to certain symptoms that can occur during the course of a middle ear infection:

"Middle ear infections are common, usually harmless and heal with medication. However, a middle ear infection can also have serious consequences. If symptoms such as high fever with a strong feeling of illness, a protruding auricle, swelling behind the ear or facial paralysis occur during treatment, an ENT specialist should be consulted immediately."

Jayce is recovering well. His example shows how important it is to take even supposedly harmless symptoms such as earache seriously.

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