Mastoiditis history and symptoms
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Mastoiditis Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mehrian Jafarizade, M.D [2]
Overview
History and symptoms of mastoiditis range from asymptomatic disease to symptomatic and progressive mastoiditis with serious life-threatening complications. History should be taken considering onset, duration, and progression of symptoms, allergies, previous history of acute otitis media, upper respiratory tract infection, associated symptoms (otalgia, fever, confusion), medications, including antibiotic usage in acute otitis media, snoring, attendance to day care, history of trauma, co-morbid conditions like diabetes, immunodeficiency, and smoking. Common symptoms of mastoiditis are: ear pain, fever, feeling of "fullness" in the ear, recent episode of acute otitis media, fluid discharge in the ear, partial loss of hearing, irritability (in infants), headache, and lethargy/malaise. Neurological symptoms from chronic mastoiditis and otitis media with effusion include: poor attention span, delayed speech development, clumsiness, and poor balance. Less common symptoms are: gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, meningismus, and torticollis.
History
Obtaining the history is a very important aspect of making a diagnosis of mastoiditis. It provides insight into the causes, precipitating factors and associated comorbid conditions.
History should be taken considering the following:
- Onset, duration and progression of symptoms
- Allergies
- Previous history of acute otitis media
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Associated symptoms (otalgia, fever, confusion)
- Medications, include antibiotic usage in acute otitis media
- Snoring
- Attendance to day care
- History of trauma
- Co-morbid conditions like diabetes or immunodeficiency
- Smoking, which contributes to fluid buildup and blockage in the eustachian tube
- Smoking during pregnancy
- Occupations involving exposure to air pollution
- Social status[1][2][3]
Common Symptoms
Common symptoms of mastoiditis are:
- Ear pain
- Fever
- Feeling of "fullness" in the ear
- Recent episode of acute otitis media
- Fluid discharge in the ear
- Partial loss of hearing
- Irritability (in infants)
- Headache
- Lethargy/malaise
- Neurological symptoms from chronic mastoiditis and otitis media with effusion:
- Poor attention span
- Delayed speech development
- Clumsiness
- Poor balance[3]
Less Common Symptoms
Less common mastoiditis symptoms are:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea
- Meningismus
- Torticollis[3]
References
- ↑ Zhang Y, Xu M, Zhang J, Zeng L, Wang Y, Zheng QY (2014). "Risk factors for chronic and recurrent otitis media-a meta-analysis". PLoS ONE. 9 (1): e86397. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086397. PMC 3900534. PMID 24466073.
- ↑ Holt GR, Gates GA (1983). "Masked mastoiditis". Laryngoscope. 93 (8): 1034–7. PMID 6877011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 van den Aardweg MT, Rovers MM, de Ru JA, Albers FW, Schilder AG (2008). "A systematic review of diagnostic criteria for acute mastoiditis in children". Otol. Neurotol. 29 (6): 751–7. doi:10.1097/MAO.0b013e31817f736b. PMID 18617870.