A child aged 31/2 died from a cardiac condition after many and prolonged antibiotic courses: bilateral glue ear had been treated for the previous 18 months. Histopathology showed cholesterol granulomata in the masteroid air cells, with evidence of old haemorrhage, and of former inflammation of bone. The exudate was histiocytic with some giant cells. An ‘orange spot’ on the tympanic membrane was hyperaemic middle‐ear mucosa, heavily infiltated by plasma cells, lymphocytes and histocytes. There was no evidence of hypersecretion. Some of the most abnormal areas were around the stapedial niche and the round w