Mastoiditis

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Mastoidectomy - series

Mastoiditis - redness and swelling behind ear

Mastoiditis - side view of head

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.

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

• 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

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.

Review Date: 02/19/2007
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.