Pediatric mastoiditis

Pediatric mastoiditis (mas·​toid·​itis) is inflammation and infection of the mastoid bone, located in the middle ear. It usually occurs as a complication of a middle ear infection.

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What is pediatric mastoiditis?

Mastoiditis is a complication of a middle ear infection (otitis media) that happens when the mastoid bone becomes inflamed or infected. Your child’s mastoid bone is a part of the temporal bone, located in the middle ear.

The mastoid bone is important to the drainage of the middle ear, so if your child has a middle ear infection, it can lead to mastoiditis. Mastoiditis infections can range from mild to severe and life-threatening.

What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric mastoiditis?

  • Ear drainage
  • Ear pain, usually behind the ear
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Hearing loss
  • Irritability
  • Redness behind the ear
  • Swelling of the earlobe

What are the causes of pediatric mastoiditis?

The bacteria from a middle ear infection can affect the cells in the mastoid, causing mastoiditis.

Risk factors

Your child is at a higher risk for developing mastoiditis if they have recently had a middle ear infection.