Mastoiditis

Mastoiditis is a serious bacterial infection of the bony air cells in the mastoid bone, located just behind the ear. It's more common in children. Most people with mastoiditis recover quickly and have no complications as long as the condition is diagnosed and treated quickly. If the mastoid bone is severely infected and is not removed, it can cause hearing loss and life-threatening health complications such as a blood clot, meningitis, or a brain abscess.
If left untreated, mastoiditis can cause serious, even life-threatening health complications.
Symptoms

Fatigue

common

Tenderness behind the ear

common

Swelling behind the ear

common

Skin rash and redness

  • Behind the ear

common

Fever

  • Less than 38°C (100.4°F), Greater than or equal to 38°C (100.4°F)

common

Ear pain

common

Baby not feeling hungry

or Poor appetite

common

Child is constantly crying

or Feeling agitated

common

Liquid coming out of ear

  • Smells bad and is yellow in color

common

Difficulty hearing

  • In one ear

Diarrhea

Headache

  • Severe, On one side of the head

  • In the temporal region

Risk factors

Recent history of Otitis Media

History of cholesteatoma

Treatment
Mastoiditis is a serious infection and should be diagnosed and treated quickly with antibiotics. You may need to go to the hospital so antibiotics can be given directly into a vein through a drip (intravenously). In some cases, surgery may be needed to either: drain the middle ear (a myringotomy).
Recommended specialist

If you have Mastoiditis, then a visit to an ENT specialist is recommended.

Contact an

ENT specialist

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