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Mastoiditis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Treatment:

Mastoiditis may be difficult to treat because it is difficult for medications to reach deep enough into the mastoid bone. It may require repeated or long-term treatment. Antibiotics by injection, then antibiotics by mouth are given to treat the infection.

Surgery to remove part of the bone and drain the mastoid ( mastoidectomy ) may be needed if antibiotic therapy is not successful. Surgical drainage of the middle ear through the eardrum ( myringotomy ) may be needed to treat the underlying middle ear infection.

Expectations (prognosis):

Mastoiditis is curable with treatment but may be hard to treat and may recur.

Complications:

• Partial or complete hearing loss
• Destruction of the mastoid bone
• Facial paralysis
• Meningitis
• Spread of infection to the brain or throughout the body
• Epidural abscess

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if symptoms indicate mastoiditis.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if a known ear infection does not respond to treatment or is followed by new symptoms, or if symptoms do not respond to treatment.

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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