Ear infections are a serious condition where the patient can experience difficulties, which can result in hearing loss. One of the serious types of ear infections happens inside the middle ear area. This type of infection is called Mastoiditis and is a hard condition for patients and those who are dealing with this condition. So, learning more about what is Mastoiditis is essential. Today, we will go through all of the things you need to know about Mastoiditis, its symptoms, its causes, and lastly, how to prevent it.
About Mastoiditis
Located in the temporal bone, behind the ear, where the mastoid structure is placed. It is an air-filled structure that connects the middle ear with other parts, such as the middle ear with the mastoid antrum.
This structure can help to protect deeper structures like the brain and facial nerve. But, as with any other parts of the body, they can also get infections.
Mastoiditis
Mastoiditis is a bacterial infection in which the mastoid bone can get infected and left untreated. Bone destruction and painful swelling are some of the results of mastoiditis.
Mastoiditis has some symptoms and causes, and we can identify the problem by them. So, let’s get into the symptoms and causes of mastoiditis.
Mastoiditis Symptoms
Symptoms of mastoiditis aren’t hard to identify. The symptoms show their signs usually after several days or weeks, and they can be left untreated. Throbbing ear pain that doesn’t stop is the basic symptom of mastoiditis. Moreover, swollen skin or redness can also happen to the important areas of the ear.
Vertigo, confusion, double vision, and loss of focus can also happen as a symptom of mastoiditis. Ear drainage, severe headache, or even fever are also some of the symptoms of mastoiditis, which may not happen for all.
Mastoiditis Causes
The main cause of mastoiditis is a bacterial infection, which happens in the middle ear area. If a middle ear infection is left untreated or poorly treated, you will most likely experience the advanced version, which is known as the mastoiditis infection, caused by bacteria and viruses.
Additionally, this condition also happens in children, and bacterial infections are also the same scenario for them.
Mastoiditis Symptoms
Overall, bacterial infections are the true enemies of mastoiditis and many types of ear infections. The infection easily spreads over all of the areas of the ear, and it can even reach the brain and nerves.
How to Diagnose Mastoiditis?
But how to diagnose mastoiditis? There are different types of mastoiditis, all of which need a standard process to diagnose. Clinical options such as physical exam findings and analyzing the history of the patient can help to identify mastoiditis faster.
Clinical suspicion and CT Scan are the best and fastest ways of diagnosing mastoiditis. Otherwise, if you’ve had a history of middle ear infections, check with a specialized doctor to examine and evaluate the case.
Seeing a doctor and check-ups are necessary for measurements and to confirm. Since mastoiditis is an emergency condition, it will need necessary and emergency treatments.
Mastoiditis Treatments
For those who are looking for treatment options, there are plenty of ways. Bear in mind that mastoiditis needs emergency treatment, and patients should go to the healthcare center immediately.
There, you will go through the first line of your treatments, which is antibiotic therapy, using Ceftriaxone or Ampicillin-Sulbactam.
Mastoiditis Treatments
After that, if there aren’t any improvements, you will be suggested for a surgical treatment, which can be Myringotomy. In this method, a small incision in the eardrum will be used for draining pus.
Mastoidectomy is another option that is used for severe complications. Lastly, surgical treatments are mandatory if there is no improvement after antibiotic therapy.
Mastoiditis Complications
In case of no treatments, mastoiditis can result in severe complications, which sometimes can be life-threatening. Intracranial complications, such as Meningitis and Brain Abscess, are common.
Meningitis is a type of infection that can spread to the brain membranes with symptoms of headaches and seizures. Brain abscess is when pus collects in brain tissue.
Nausea, headache, and seizures are also symptoms of brain abscess. Moreover, the advanced complications of mastoiditis can lead to hearing loss and nerve damage. So, in general, mastoiditis needs emergency treatments.
Mastoiditis Risk Factor
Most of the people who get mastoiditis are usually those who have dealt with untreated or inadequately treated acute otitis media, known as AOM. In this situation, bacteria survive and spread over the middle ear.
Among children, most of them who’ve had eustachian tube dysfunction or narrow mastoid air cells will be diagnosed with mastoiditis. Mastoiditis is also common among people with Down syndrome or those who have Cholesteatoma.
Mastoiditis Risk Factor
Cholesteatoma is a situation in which skin grows abnormally and erodes bone. Unvaccinated children and elderly adults, due to their weaker immune systems, will be at more risk of getting mastoiditis.
How to Prevent Mastoiditis?
The most important part of today’s article is how to prevent mastoiditis. Well, as the question is easy, the answer is easier. If there is proper infection management of the ears, you won’t be at risk of mastoiditis at all.
The best way to prevent mastoiditis is proper vaccination which can reduce the risk factor by up to 80 percent, especially in children.
Children should be breastfed to 6 months to reduce ear infections of all types and focus on daycare hygiene. Adults should avoid smoking and secondhand smoke. They should also dry their ears after swimming. Inserting objects is highly forbidden for all ages.
Ear Infection & Mastoiditis
Although mastoiditis is a type of infection, there are some differences between mastoiditis and ear infections. Mastoiditis happens mainly in the mastoid bone behind the ear whereas ear infection happens in the middle ear. Their pains are also felt in different locations.
For example, the pain of ear infection is mainly inside the ear whereas mastoiditis’s pain is felt behind the ear and ear canal.
Mastoiditis in Adults
For ear infections, oral antibiotics are enough as a treatment option; hence, for mastoiditis surgery and IV antibiotics are highly advised. Generally, both ear infections and mastoiditis share some similarities in their symptoms and pain levels, but the treatment options and proper signs can reflect each type correctly.
Mastoiditis Facts & Key Takeaways
A bacterial infection is called mastoiditis. (In mastoid bone, behind the ear)
In developed countries, cases of mastoiditis are rare. (1 to 4 cases per 100,000 people)
It is most common among children.
Males are more affected by mastoiditis.
Half of the cases of mastoiditis (50 percent of them) need surgical treatment to get well.
Hearing loss can happen in 30 percent of cases! That is why it is considered an emergency condition in general.
Prevention is the best scenario to avoid any further complications such as hearing loss or other types of infections.
Final Words
Surely, mastoiditis is a serious bacterial infection and it can affect the daily routine if it happens to one. Mastoiditis should be treated as quickly as possible when it is diagnosed to prevent any other complications or further advancements. Surgery and using antibiotics are the best possible ways of treatment for mastoiditis. So, in simple words, if you experience mastoiditis, it is a problem that you can’t ignore, and you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
