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Mastoiditis is an infection of the mastoid bone of the skull. The mastoid is located just behind the outside ear.
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsMastoiditis is usually caused by a middle ear infection (acute otitis media). The infection may spread from the ear to the mastoid bone of the skull. The mastoid bone fills with infected materials and its honeycomb-like structure may deteriorate.
Mastoiditis usually affects children. Before antibiotics, mastoiditis was one of the leading causes of death in children. Now it is a relatively uncommon and much less dangerous condition.
Symptoms- Drainage from the ear
- Ear pain or discomfort
- Fever, may be high or suddenly increase
- Headache
- Hearing loss
- Redness of the ear or behind the ear
- Swelling behind ear, may cause ear to stick out
An examination of the head may reveal signs of mastoiditis. The following tests may show an abnormality of the mastoid bone:
- CTscan of the ear
- Head CT scan
- Skull x-ray
A culture of drainage from the ear may show bacteria.
TreatmentMastoiditis may be difficult to treat because medications may not reach deep enough into the mastoid bone. It may require repeated or long-term treatment. The infection is treated with antibiotics by injection, then antibiotics by mouth.
Surgery to remove part of the bone and drain the mastoid (mastoidectomy) may be needed if antibiotic therapy is not successful. Surgery to drain the middle ear through the eardrum (myringotomy) may be needed to treat the middle ear infection.
Expectations (prognosis)Mastoiditis is curable with treatment. However, it may be hard to treat and may come back.
Complications- Destruction of the mastoid bone
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Epidural abscess
- Facial paralysis
- Meningitis
- Partial or complete hearing loss
- Spread of infection to the brain or throughout the body
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of mastoiditis.
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:
- You have an ear infection that does not respond to treatment or is followed by new symptoms
- Your symptoms do not respond to treatment
Promptly and completely treating ear infections reduces the risk of mastoiditis.
ReferencesCummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 4th ed. St Louis, Mo; Mosby; 2005:3019-3020.
Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. London: Churchill Livingstone; 2005:771.
What else can I help you with?
Can you safely travel on an airplane while suffering from mastoiditis?
What is mastoiditis?!Why would you need to know that!
Can mastoiditis cause tinnitus?
Mastoiditis can cause hearing loss which may result in tinnitus.
How can mastoiditis be prevented?
Prevention of mastoiditis involves careful and complete treatment of any middle ear infections.
What causes mastoiditis?
Mastoiditis is caused by the same types of bacteria which cause middle ear infections (Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae).
Symptoms of mastoiditis are similar to what other infection?
Symptoms of mastoiditis may at first be the same as symptoms of an early middle ear infection.
What are indicates of mastoiditis?
Mastoiditis is usually suspected when a severe middle ear infection is accompanied by redness, swelling, and pain in the mastoid area.
What is a simple case of mastoiditis?
In a simple case of mastoiditis some fluid escapes into the mastoid air cells during a middle ear infection.
Mastoiditis can occur when an infection in what area of the ear is left untreated?
Mastoiditis may occur due to the progression of an untreated, or undertreated, middle ear infection.
Can otitis media infection spread to the mastoid spaces?
Otitis Media or middle ear infection can cause Mastoiditis or bacterial infection of the mastoid bone. If Otitis Media is untreated and recurrent, this can cause Mastoiditis. Mastoiditis typically affects children moreso than adults.
Can you die from mastoiditis?
While mastoiditis is a serious condition that can lead to complications if left untreated, such as meningitis or a brain abscess, it is usually not fatal with prompt medical treatment. Antibiotics are typically used to treat mastoiditis, and in some cases, surgery may be necessary. If you suspect you have mastoiditis, seek medical attention promptly.
What is a complex case of mastoiditis?
In complex mastoiditis, the infection penetrates through to the lining of the mastoid bone, resulting in a very severe and destructive infection of the mastoid bone itself.
Why is it important to identify a case of mastoiditis early?
With early identification of mastoiditis, the prognosis is very good. When symptoms are not caught early enough, however, a number of complications can occur.
