Mastoiditis – What You Should Know

Ear infections on their own are bad enough. When they CAUSE other infections, though, that’s when things become interesting.

Mastoiditis is an inflammation within the mastoid bone, which is the bone immediately behind the ear. Because the mastoid is close to the middle ear, it is easy for middle ear infections, to spread to the mastoid. Depending on the type of mastoiditis, the duration of illness will vary. For instance, chronic mastoiditis may take more than 3 months to clear up, while acute mastoiditis will last less than 3 weeks.

What are the causes and risks of the Mastoiditis ?

Two main causes of acute mastoiditis are untreated or incompletely treated middle ear infections or acute otitis media.

Chronic mastoiditis is caused by a perforated eardrum, and a long-lasting infection in the middle ear, which is known as chronic otitis media.

Harmless growths on the ears are also frequent causes. Cysts known as cholesteatomas are particularly guilty.

What are the treatments for the Mastoiditis ?

Treatment for acute mastoiditis includes the insertion of an ear tube through the eardrum to allow drainage of infected fluid. This is done by making a perforation in the eardrum. This process is called myringotomy, or commonly known as ‘ear tubes surgery’. Usually, antibiotics are also used to supplement the treatment.

Indeed, the first step in treating chronic mastoiditis is oral or topical antibiotics.

In extreme cases, if the antibiotics do not clear up the problem, surgery might be needed to remove the diseased part of the mastoid. As part of this process, repairs will be made to any damaged parts e.g. the eardrum or bone, and cysts (if they exist) will be removed.

However, like all other treatments, this one, too, has side effects.

Side effects of the treatments?

Some major complications that may occur are long-lasting holes in the eardrum, and resulting ear drainage. In rare and unfortunate cases, deafness may result.

Surgery to remove the mastoid may damage parts of the face nearby. This might result in:
- facial paralysis
- hearing impairment, if the wrong bones or nerves are injured.
- Vertigo - Commonly known as ‘fear of heights’, this is a type of diziness where the patient feels the world is moving around him/her. It can be caused by damage to the inner ear, since the inner ear has an important role in maintaining balance.

Post-treatment

Cheer up though. In most cases the treatment is effective i.e. the ear tubes and antibiotics work. The tube is usually falls out by itself in 6 to 12 months.

A successful outcome would mean the mastoiditis being cured, the hole in the eardrum sealing (and hence no more draining from the ear), and hearing returning to normal (or near-normal).

As always though, prevention is better. Safeguard your ear health today for a pain-free tomorrow!