Mastoiditis Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Mastoiditis is an inflammatory process of the mastoid cells. These cells are located in the skull which is just behind the ear. It usually occurs in children or adults who have previously had an acute infection of the middle ear.
This disease can cause several complications. For example:
- Hearing disorders
- Facial nerve paralysis
- Gradenigo’s syndrome
- Otitis media
- Meningitis
Symptom
There are several symptoms of mastoiditis, including:
- A fluid that comes out of the ear for more than three weeks
- Fever that comes and goes
- The pain usually appears behind the ear and gets worse at night
- Decreased hearing
- Redness and swelling in the mastoid area (behind the ear)
Reason
The cause of mastoiditis is not yet known with certainty. However, it usually occurs in young patients and patients with compromised immune systems.
In addition, it is also suspected of having a connection with old infections in the middle ear. This is because the bacteria found in mastoiditis are usually the same as those found in middle ear infections.
Diagnosis
Determination of the diagnosis of mastoiditis can be made based on clinical symptoms, physical examination, and supporting examinations. Doctors will usually get complaints such as ear pain, hearing loss, and fever from sufferers of this disease.
Even though the diagnosis of mastoiditis can be made based solely on physical examination, the doctor can also carry out supporting examinations using a CT scan.
In addition, the incidence of mastoiditis is also often associated with the presence of otitis media. This is an infection that occurs in the middle ear. Therefore, an otoscopy examination to see the possibility of otitis media is sometimes also carried out by doctors.
Treatment
Treatment that can be done to treat mastoiditis is done by administering drugs, such as antibiotics, painkillers, and anti-inflammatories. Surgical procedures are only performed if treatment with drugs cannot help return the mastoid cells to their normal function.
Prevention:
You can take preventive measures against mastoiditis by:
- Maintain overall body hygiene
- Wash hands properly
- Keep away from the source of infection