What is mastoiditis?
Mastoiditis is a bacterial infection of the mastoid process, the bone behind the ear.
In a large percentage of clinical cases, this diagnosis is facilitated by a middle ear infection. Treatment is provided with antibiotics - in more severe cases, surgery is necessary.
Years ago, mastoiditis was considered a dangerous and serious disease, but today, thanks to antibiotics and vaccinations, it has become a rare pathology.
There are two forms of mastoiditis, namely:
- Chronic - lasts for several months and reappears after antibiotic therapy is completed;
- Acute - is treated with a course of treatment for a month and does not reappear.
Mastoiditis can affect people of any age, although it is much more common in children under 2 years of age.
Symptoms of mastoiditis usually appear a few days or weeks after the onset of a middle ear infection. It is characterized by a throbbing pain that does not go away.
Mastoiditis also causes the following symptoms:
- The skin behind the ear bone is swollen and red;
- Touching the ear causes pain;
- Fever;
- Purulent discharge or thick fluid from the ear;
- Hearing loss;
- Irritability;
- Restlessness;
- The patient frequently touches the ear.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24469-mastoiditis
