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Mastoiditis - Symptom

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

Signs and tests:

An examination of the head may reveal signs of mastoiditis. The following tests may show an abnormality of the mastoid bone:

A culture of drainage from the ear may show bacteria.

Mastoiditis - side view of head

Mastoiditis - redness and swelling behind ear

Mastoidectomy - series

Reviewed last on: 10/10/2008
Alan Lipkin, MD, Otolaryngologist, Private Practice, Denver, Colorado. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Cummings 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.

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