Mastoiditis: drugs, symptoms, etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is mastoiditis?

Mastoiditis is a type of ear infection that occurs in the bulge of the bone behind the ear (mastoid bone). This disease can destroy bones and cause hearing loss. This condition is a common ear-nose-throat disease and, if not treated in a timely manner, can lead to death.

Mastoiditis can be divided into two types, namely acute and chronic. The acute type occurs suddenly and develops rapidly. Meanwhile, chronic mastoiditis means the infection lasts a long time and continues to develop slowly.

How common is this condition?

This condition occurs most often in children. Before antibiotics, mastoiditis was one of the leading causes of death in children.

Mastoiditis is rare in adults. Usually, the condition is no more dangerous than it is in children.

You can limit your risk of developing this disease by reducing the trigger factors. Please consult your doctor for more information.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of mastoiditis?

This disease is more common in children. Symptoms that usually appear in children under 2 years of age are:

Signs of mastoiditis are:

• Easy to get angry
• Fussy
• Sluggish
• Fever
• Often pulls the ear
• Earache

Meanwhile, in adults, the symptoms that arise consist of:

• Severe earache
• Fever
• Pain to

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

Call your doctor or check with the hospital if you or your child have any of the symptoms that have been mentioned. In addition, contact your doctor immediately if you or your child experiences:

• Ear infections that don't get better despite treatment or are followed by new symptoms
• Mastoiditis was diagnosed and treatment was unsuccessful

Always discuss with your doctor for the best diagnostic, treatment and treatment methods for you.

Cause

What causes mastoiditis?

Mastoiditis is most often caused by middle ear infection or otitis media. The infection can spread from the ear to the mastoid bone. In this condition, the bone which has a honeycomb-like structure is filled with infected material and can be damaged.

Generally, this condition is caused by a bacterial infection Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus or Streptococcus. H. influenzae is a more aggressive germ and will usually cause complications in the form of meningitis.

Cholesteatoma can also cause mastoiditis. This condition is a collection of abnormal skin cells in the ear that can hinder the process of draining the ear properly. This can lead to infection.

Risk factors

What puts me at risk for mastoiditis?

Quoted from an article published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, factors that can increase the risk of mastoiditis are:

• Age less than two years
• Weak immune system
• Recurrent acute otitis media
• Incomplete mastoid formation process

Complications

What complications may occur from mastoiditis?

The development of acute mastoiditis can result in severe conditions. The following complications can arise due to mastoiditis:

• Hearing loss
• Serious infection of the tissue around the ear
• Facial nerve damage
• Inner ear problems
• Inflammation or infection of the sheath of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the treatment options for mastoiditis?

Treatment is difficult because the drugs used are difficult to absorb deep enough into the mastoid bone, so you need to be patient with the treatment.

More severe cases require injecting the antibiotic directly into the bloodstream and then taking antibiotic tablets. Treatment with antibiotics should be continued for at least two weeks.

Although stated to be at the heart of mastoiditis treatment, antibiotics have been shown to increase the risk of complications. Therefore, the following additional actions may be of help:

• Myringotomy, which is an operation to drain the middle ear through the eardrum
• Mastoidectomy, which is surgery to remove part of the bone and drain the mastoid
• Insertion of a tympanostomy tube

Surgical removal of the entire mastoid bone can be performed if antibiotics and other treatments don't work well. If you are admitted to the hospital, you will need to stay for a few days until the doctor confirms that the infection is under control.

After the operation, you need to take a break from your daily activities, for at least 7-10 days. In addition, you also need to pay attention to the recommendations stated by the National Health Service, which is to keep your ears dry during the recovery period.

What are the tests to diagnose this condition?

Your doctor will make a diagnosis based on your medical history and medical examination. The doctor can take a sample from the ear to be tested.

In addition, x-rays, CT scans, or MRIs may also be performed if needed. The CT scan procedure in the process of diagnosing mastoiditis can show the following:

• Thickening of fluid in the middle ear
• Loss of components that determine mastoid air cells
• Destruction of the outer portion of mastoiditis

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies for mastoiditis?

Lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with mastoiditis are:

• Check with your doctor regularly to monitor the progress of your symptoms as well as your health.
• Follow the doctor's advice, do not use medication without the doctor's instructions or do not use the medicine that the doctor has given you.
• Keep the ears clean and dry. Use cotton buds to drain the fluid.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.