Home >> Health >> Acute Mastoiditis

Acute Mastoiditis

What is Acute Mastoiditis?

Acute Mastoiditis was once common, but today is rare, and may seldom be seen by younger doctors. However, cases may still occur, and it is mentioned because if it does happen, treatment is essential to preserve hearing and prevent serious complications.

The mastoid is the bony knob behind the ear, filled with spongy cells. Nearly always an acute otitis media precedes mastoid infection, which represents a direct extension of the infection.

Acute Mastoiditis Symptoms

There is a history of ear infection. Pain following this is the cardinal sign. After an acute otitis has been treated (either by antibiotics, or bursting of the drum or myringotomy), pain usually subsides. If the pain continues or worsens after this, it could indicate mastoid infection. The pain is usually worse over the mastoid bone behind the ear. rather than actually in the ear.

There is often an ear discharge. tending to become more profuse. Sometimes it might cease, as pain increases.

This indicates that the canal has become blocked and the pus is damming up in the mastoid space.

Invariably there is a rise in temperature as the infection advances. Sharp rises indicate further complications. The pulse rate is an even more reliable guide to the advancement of this condition. Usually there is increasing deafness. The patient often feels and looks toxic and ill. is flushed and feverish and has a coated tongue.

The mastoid bone is tender if pressed. and there is often swelling over it. The eardrum is frequently perforated, allowing pus to escape. Sometimes to assist diagnosis, X-rays of the mastoid are taken.

Acute Mastoiditis Treatment

This has radically altered over the past several years since antibiotics came into wide use. Now the disease is relatively rare and cases seldom advance to this stage, having been effectively nipped in the bud under treatment of the acute otitis.

However, if it does advance to a severe mastoid infection, the ENT surgeon may still operate, using the Schwartze operation. This allows complete drainage of the mastoid space, prevents further extension of infection and preserves hearing.

If hearing is lost over a period of time, it is most likely irreversible. The longer an infected mastoid is permitted to drain through the middle ear, the greater is the risk of permanent hearing impairment.

Results of the operation are usually excellent and, according to an authority on the subject, "barring accidents and neglect, results should approach 100 per cent. In children the results are naturally superior to those obtained in adults." The poorest results are in adults in whom deafness either of middle ear or of sensori-neural type has previously been present.

Other Health Care Articles:

Abdominal Discomfort | Abdominal Pain Diagnosis | About Epilepsy | About Leukemia | Acetaminophen | Acne | Acne Treatment | Acne Vulgaris | Acute Adrenal Crisis | Acute Epiglottitis | Acute Glomerulonephritis | Acute Mastoiditis | Acute Nephritis | Acute Otitis Media | Acute Pharyngitis | Addison's Disease | ADHD | ADHD Diet | ADHD Medications | ADHD Symptoms | ADHD Treatment | Adrenal Gland Disorders | Adrenal Glands | Adrenal Medulla Secretes | Adrenal System | Adrenocortical Hyperfunction | Aggressive Behavior in Children | Agranulocytosis | Aids Facts | A List of Vitamins | Allergen | Allergic Conjunctivitis | Allergic Reactions | Allergic Rhinitis | Allergy Diagnosis | Allergy Information | Allergy Symptoms | Allergy Test | Altitude Sickness | Alzheimer Symptoms | Anal Problems | Animal Bites | Ankylosing Spondylitis Excruciating Pain | Antibiotics | Aphasia Definition | Appendicitis | Asbestos Lung Cancer | Asthma | Asthma Prevention | Asthma Symptoms | Asthma Treatment | Athlete's Foot | Autism | Baldness Treatment | Battered Child Syndrome | Bedwetting | Bedwetting Alarm | Bedwetting Drug | Bell's Palsy | Bilirubin | Birthmarks | Blood Cancers | Body Odor | Bone Fracture First Aid | Bone Fractures | Bone Tumor | Breathholding Spells | Bronchiectasis Respiratory Disorder | Bronchiolitis | Burn Care | Calluses | Candidiasis | Can You Give Me the Steps on Performing CPR | Carbohydrates | Carbon Monoxide Poisoning | Cat Scratch Disease | Causes of Amenorrhea | Causes of Anaemia | Causes of Baldness | Causes of Fainting | Causes of Heart Disease | Causes of Kidney Disease | Causes of Vertigo | Cerebral Abscess | Cerebral Arteriosclerosis | Chickenpox | Childblains | Childhood Infectious Disease | Choking First Aid | Cholesterol | Chronic Appendicitis | Chronic Halitosis | Chroniclaryngitis | Chronic Leukemia | Cigarette Smoking | Cirrhosis of the Liver | Cluster Headaches | Coeliac Disease | Colds | Cold Sores | Colic | Colon Cancer | Coma | Common Cold | Congenital Abnormality | Congenital Defects | Congenital Heart Disease | Congenital Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis | Constipation | Corneal Abrasion | Cornea Ulcers | Cot Death | Cradle Cap | Cretinism | Crippling Diseases | Cross Eyes | Croup | Crying | Cryptor Chidism | Curvature of the Spine | Deafness | Death by Drug Overdose | Deficiencies of Factors | Define Anaemia | Define Ear | Degenerative Joint Disorder | Dental Care | Depression | Diabetes Insipidus | Diabetes Mellitus | Diabetes Symptoms | Diabetes Treatment With Insulin | Diabetic Coma | Diabetic Problems | Diabetis Mellitus | Diagnosing ADHD | Diarrhea | Diet for Diabetics | Diphtheria | Dirt Eating | Dislocations of Bones | Disorders of the Skin | Diuretics | Diverticular Disease | Drooping Eyelids | Drug Rash | Drug Rherapy | Dry Skin | Dwarfism | Dysathria | Dyslexia | Dyspareunia | Ear Injuries | Ear Piercing Infections | Eighth Nerve Tumours | Electric Blanket Safety | Electric Shock | Electrocution | Encephalitis | Enlarged Prostate Gland | Enuresis | Epileptic Seizure | Esophagus Cancer | Exposure to the Cold | Subdural Haematoma | External Cardiac Compression | Eye | Eye Accidents | Eyebrows | Eye Care | Eye Cataracts | Eye Infection | Eye Injury | Eye Lashes | Eyelid Twitching | Eyes are Crooked | Facts about Blood | Febrile Convulsion | Febrile Seizures | Feminine Irritations | Fetal Alcohol Syndrome | Fever | Fibre | Fire Safety | First Aid At a Car Accident | First Aid Bleeding | First Aid Burn Care | First Aid Ear When Something Alive is in Your Ear | First Aid Eye | First Aid Fainting | First Aid For Dental Emergencies | First Aid in Drowning | First Aid Kit List | First Aid on Nose Bleed | Flu | Fontanelle | Food Allergy | Food and Vitamins | Food Poisoning | Food Poisoning Prevention | Food Poisoning Treatment | Food Transit in the Gut | Foot Bone Problem | Foreign Bodies | Foreign Bodies in the Nose | Foreign Body in Ear | Foreign Body in Esophagus | Foreign Body in Eye | Fractures | Freckles | Friedreich's Ataxia | Function and Structure of Eye | Function of Red Cells | Function of the Kidneys | Gall Bladder Stones | Gallstones | Gastritis | Gastrointestinal Infections | Gastrointestinal System | Genital Hygiene | German Measles | Get Rid of Eye Bag Now | Gigantism | Glands | Glandular Fever | Glaucoma | Glomerulonephritis | Glue Ear | Gonad | Gout | Granulated Eyelids | Haemangiomas | Haemolytic Anaemia | Haemophilia | Haemorrhage | Hair Transplants | Hare Lip | Hay Fever | Headache | Head Injury | Hearing Device | Heart Attack | Heart Beat | Heart Disease | Heart Failure | Heart Failure Symptoms | Heart Transplant | Heart Transplant Surgery | Hepatitis | Hepatitis B | Hermaproditism | Hernias | Herpes Infections | Hiccup | Highblood Pressure | Hirschprung Disease | HIV | Hoarness | Hodgkin's Disease | Home Safety | Hormones in the Human Body | How Does Blood Clot | How the Heart Works | How to Get Rid of a Bruise | How to Get Rid of Unwanted Hair | How to Get Sleep | How to Prevent a Heart Attack | How to Recognise a Heart Attack | How to Stop Bedwetting | How to Treat Bee Stings | How to Treat Cuts | How to Treat Poisoning | Human Blood Volume | Human Hair | Human Intestines | Human Nose | Human Skeletal System | Hydrocephalus | Hydrocoele | Hydrotherapy | Hyperactivity | Hyperkeratosis | Hyperlipidaemia | Hypertension | Hyperthermia | Hyperthyroidism | Hypoglycaemia | Hypoparathyroidism | Hypoplastic Bones | Hypothermia | Hysterectomy   | Impetigo | Infant Signs of Illness | Infectious Disease | Infectious Mononucleosis | Inflammatory Disease | Influenza | Information on Breathing How the Lungs Work | Inhaled Foreign Bodies | Inner Ear | Insect Bites | Intertrigo | Intestinal Obstruction | Iritis | Iron | Irregular Menstrual Bleeding | Irritable Colon | Jaundice | Jealousy | Jet Lag | Joule Content of Various Foods | Juvenilearthritis | Kawasaki Disease | Keratoconus | Kidney Cancer | Kidney Donor | Kidney Transplant | Kidneytumor | Klinefeltersyndrome | Labyrinthitis | Lactation | Lactose Intolerance | Larnyxcancer | Laryngitis | Laxatives | Lead Poisoning in Children | Learning Difficulties | Leptospirosis | Leucocytosis | Leucopenia | Lice | Liver | Liver Infection | Liver Tumors | Loss of Consciousness | Low Blood Pressure Hypertension | Lung Collapse | Lyme Disease | Lymphadeopathy | Male Genital Problems | Male Hormone Therapy | Male Hypoganadism | Malfunctions Can Occur | Masturbation | Measles | Meniere Disease | Menieresyndrome | Meningitis | Menopause Information | Men Sex Problems | Menstrual Cycle Irregularities | Mental Retardation | Migraine | Miliaria | Moles | Mongolism | Monilial Infections | Mononucleosis | Motion Sickness | Mouth 2 Mouth Resuscitation | Mouth Care | Mucoviscidosis | Muscle Strain | Nail Care | Nephrotic Syndrome | Nerval System | Normal Blood Pressure | Nosebleed | Nursing Care Plan for Respiration | Obesity | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | Oesophagus Cancer | Optic Nerve Disease | Osteitis Deformans Paget Disease | Osteoarthritis | Osteomalacia | Osteomyelitis | Osteoporosis | Otic Barotrauma | Otitis Externa | Otitis Media | Otosclerosis | Outdoor Safety | Ovarian Tumours | Ovaries | Overactive Parathyroid Gland | Overactive Thyroid Gland | Overweight | Overweigh to Obesity | Pancreas | Pancreatitis | Paralyticleus | Parkinson's Disease | Pelvic Inflammatory Disease | Penis Erection | Peptic Ulcer | Perforated Peptic Ulcers | Pericarditis | Peritonsillar Abscess Quinsy | Phaeo Chromocytoma | Phenylkeyonuriapku | Piles | Pin Worm | Pituitary Disorders | Pituitary Gland | Pleurisy | Pneumoconiosis | Pneumonia | Pneumo Thorax | Poisoning | Poison Ivy | Poliomyelitis | Polycystic Ovary Syndrome | Polycythaemia | Polyneuritism | Polyps of the Colon | Port Wine Stains | Premenstrual Syndrome | Prickly Heat Rash | Primary Amenorrhoea | Primary Dysmenorrhoea | Primary Hyperparathyroidism | Progestrone | Prolapse | Prostate Cancer | Psoriasis | Pulmonary Infection | Pulmonary Tuberculosis | Purpura | Pyloric Stenosis | Pyogenic Arthritis | Rabies | Reason to Lower and Improve Blood Lipid Levels | Reconstruction Surgery | Red Blood Cells | Red Splotches | Reduce Cholesterol | Refractive Error | Regional Ileitis | Renal Calculi | Renal Dialysis | Reproduction Cells | Restless Leg Syndrome | Retinal Blood Vessels | Retinal Detachment | Retroversion | Reye's Syndrome | Rheumatic Dever | Rheumatic Heart Disease | Rheumatoid Arthritis | Rheumatoid Arthritis and Exercise | Ring Worm | Risk Factors of Heart Disease | Rosacea | Roseola | Scabies | School Refusal | Sciatica | Scorpion Sting | Sebaceous Cysts | Seborrhoeic Dermatitis | Secondary Amenorrhoea | Secondary Dysmenorrhoea | Seizures | Seizure Treatment | Seminal Vesicle | Sickle Cell Anaemia | Sickle Cell Disease | Side Effect of Antiobiotic | Sinuses | Sinusitis | Skin Cancer | Skin Disease | Skin Inflammation | Skin Tumour | Smear Test | Snake Bites | Snoring | Sore Ears | Sore Eyes | Sore Throat | Spastics | Speech Defect | Spider Bite | Spina Bifida | Sprains and Strains | Sprue | Stammering Tongue | State of Shock | Steroid Abuse | Stingray Sting | Stomach | Stomach Cancer | Stomach Profusion | Stop Smoking | Stress Management Techniques | Stretch Marks | Stridor | Stroke | St Vitusdance | Stye | Subacute Combined Degeneration of the Spinal Cord | Subdural Haematoma | Subrachnoid Haemorrhage | Suffocation | Sunburn | Sweating | Sydenham Chorea | Syncopes | Syring Myelia | Teething | Tension Headaches | Tetanus | Thalassaemia | The Acquired Haemorrhagic Disorders | The Lymphocytes and Monocytes | The Nephron | Throat Disorder | Thrush | Thumb Sucking | Thymus Gland | Thyroid Cancer | Thyroid Gland | Thyroiditis | Tick Bites | Tics | Tonsil | Tonsilitis | Trachoma | Transient Ischemic Attacks | Travelling With Baby | Treating Skin Boils | Treating Specific Poisonings | Treatment For A Black Eye | Trichomonas | Tuberculosis | Tuberculosis of the Larynx | Tummy Lumps | Tummy Pain | Tummy Upset | Turner Syndrome | Ulcerative Colitis | Ulcers | Underactive Thyroid Gland | Underweight | Undescended Testes | Unwanted Hair | Urinary Tract | Urinary Tract Infection | Urinary Tract Infections | Urinary Tract Problem | Urticaria | Uterine Cancer Symptoms and Treatment | Uterus | Vaginal Infections | Varicose Eczema | Varicose Veins | Vertigo | Viral Skin Infections | Virilisation | Vitamin B12 Deficiency | Vitamin Needs | Vitamins | Volvulus | Vomiting | Von Willie Brand Syndrome | Warts | Wasp Sting Treatment | Water Accidents | Water Brash | Watery Eye | Wax and Foreign Objects | What are the Endocrine Glands | What is a Kilo Joule Diet | What is Angina | What is Asthma | What is Astigmatism | What to do in Emergency | White Blood Cells | Whooping Cough | Worming | Wound Care