Mastoiditis usually occurs when untreated or inadequately treated acute otitis media spreads from the middle ear into the surrounding bone—the mastoid process. Most mastoid infections are caused by pneumococcus bacteria. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have significantly decreased infection with pneumococcus bacteria, and mastoiditis is uncommon. Inadequately treated mastoiditis can result in deafness, blood poisoning (sepsis), infection of the tissues covering the brain (meningitis), brain abscess, or death.
Symptoms
Usually, symptoms of mastoiditis appear days to weeks after acute otitis media develops, as the spreading infection destroys the inner part of the mastoid process. A collection of pus (abscess) may form in the bone. The skin covering the mastoid process may become red, swollen, and tender, and the external ear is pushed sideways and down. Other symptoms are fever, pain around and within the ear, and a creamy, profuse discharge from the ear. The pain tends to be persistent and throbbing. Hearing loss can become progressively worse.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Most people with mastoiditis are immediately given an antibiotic (such as ceftriaxone or vancomycin) by vein. People who are not seriously ill may instead be given a fluoroquinolone antibiotic (such as ciprofloxacin) by mouth. After this initial treatment, doctors use the results of the laboratory culture to determine the best antibiotic to use. Antibiotics may be given by mouth once the person starts to recover and are also continued for at least 2 weeks. If an abscess has formed in the bone, or infection and inflammation become chronic, surgical removal of the infected part of the bone (mastoidectomy) and corrective surgery are required.
