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Mastoiditis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Symptoms:

• Ear pain or discomfort
• Swelling behind ear, may cause ear to stick out
• Redness of the ear or behind the ear
• Fever, may be high or suddenly increase
• Headache
• Drainage from the ear

Signs and tests:

An examination of the head may indicate mastoiditis. A skull X-ray or head CT scan or CT of the ear may show an abnormality in the mastoid bone. A culture of drainage from the ear may show bacteria.

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.

• Review Date: 2/19/2007
• Reviewed By: Alden J. Pearl, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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