The occasional annoying ear infection is an ailment that most people are not a stranger to. Often, people go to the doctor when the first signs of an ear infection evince themselves and are treated with antibiotics. However, when people let an ear infection go untreated for an extended period, the ear infection can progress into a mastoiditis, an infection of the mastoid air cells, which play a role in guarding the temporal bone and other structures that are inside the ear and balancing the pressure inside the ear. The mastoid air cells rest on the mastoid bone, which play a role in the conduction of sound from the ear to the brain. A mastoiditis occurs when bacteria from a middle ear infection spreads to the mastoid air cells.
1. Ear Pain
Ear pain that has been going on for an extensive period of time is the tell-tale sign of a mastoiditis. People experience ear pain as the primary symptom of any ear infection; therefore, if the pain is going on for an extensive period, the most likely reason behind the pain is an untreated middle ear infection that is developing or has already developed into a mastoiditis. The pain typically feels like it is coming from deep within the ear or the back of the ear. The pain’s severity tends to increase at night. Babies who are experiencing an ear ache may feel warm and cranky.
Children who are experiencing an ear ache may be touching and playing with their ear often. Babies and children may lose their appetite and have trouble sleeping. Ear pain may present itself in abnormal hearing and balance. When a person goes to the doctor and complains of an earache, the doctor will look in his or her ear with an otoscope to determine the presence of an infection or other cause of pain. An ear culture may need to be taken. If the infection is has progressed to a point where it is difficult to be seen via an otoscope, a CT scan might be necessary to make a diagnosis.
2. Ear Ringing
Tinnitus is the term for ear ringing. The ear ringing can be heard as a high to low pitch ring, whistle, buzz, hiss, or click. Ear ringing is one of the symptoms of a regular middle ear infection. In the case of a mastoiditis, a cholesteatoma often builds up. A cholesteatoma is a non-cancerous build-up of integumentary cells behind the ear drum. This build-up of cells is similar to a massive build-up of ear wax. The cholesteatoma causes the ear ringing, which is indicative of hearing loss, because it is impinging with the normal conduction of sound by blocking the normal path of sounds waves. The cholesteatoma may also be the cause of the mastoiditis because it blocks drainage of pathogens from the ear.
3. Ear Inflammation
When a doctor looks into a patient’s ear with an otoscope, he or she can clearly see that there is a problem with the patient’s ear by the appearance of the interior of the ear. Ear inflammation is usually indicated by redness, swelling, or any other abnormal appearance of the interior of the ear. When a doctor looks into the ear of a patient suffering from a mastoiditis, he or she will see the mastoid air cells are inflamed. Most likely, other parts of the ear will be inflamed because the bacteria often spreads beyond the mastoid air cells.
4. Tenderness
Tenderness falls under the categories of the ear pain and inflammation symptoms of the infection. Tenderness is a feeling of discomfort in the ear that feels like a dull ache. The discomfort may worsen when the ear is touched. The tenderness will most likely feel like it is coming from deep inside or the back of the ear. However, it may be so severe that the ear generally aches. Over-the-counter pain medications and ear drops can be used until the patient gets to a doctor.
5. Fever
When there is an infection present in the body, the body temperature usually increases beyond the average 98.6 degrees. A temperature of 99 degrees is typically considered a part of the natural fluctuations of body temperature throughout the day. However, it can also indicate the presence of a viral infection or bacterial infection. A temperature of 100.1 degrees or higher is accepted as a legitimate fever that indicates an infection. A person should automatically be sent to the emergency room if he or she has a fever higher than 104 degrees. A mastoiditis will most likely present a fever of at least 100.1 degrees. However, a mastoiditis or any other ear infection may be present without a fever.
6. Headache
The ears are connected to the head, so ear aches may also be felt as headaches. The headache in a mastoid cells infection will most likely be felt behind the head around the area of the ears. In some cases, a headache may indicate severe swelling in the ear and/or spreading of the infection. The brain is in proximity to the ears, so the infection can easily spread to the brain, which is why a mastoiditis must be treated as soon as possible. Most likely, the headache is being felt simply because the ears and the head are connected.
7. Pus
Any type of discharge coming from the ears is abnormal. Pus is a thick liquid that can be white, yellow, pink, or green. The thick liquid contains white blood cells, which are the blood cells that the body produces in massive amounts when there is presence of an illness or infection. Pus does not always discharge from the ear. It can form as a sac in the mastoid area, other parts of the ear, head, neck, and spine. Most likely, a pus sac will be found on a CT scan. The pus will need to be drained before antibiotics are given so the antibiotics can target the primary infection.
8. Redness
Middle ear infections are typically characterized by redness of the ear canal, which may or may not be accompanied by fluid build-up. Ear infections are caused by blocks in the Eustachian tube. When the Eustachian tube is blocked, the ear cannot drain itself of pathogens. When there is infectious bacteria present in the ear, the ear will react by causing the ear to become red and painful to let the person know that they need to seek help. Redness may also occur in back of the ear on the skin where the eye can see it because the mastoid bone is located towards the back of the ear.
9. Swelling
The ear canal, ear drum, and other internal structures of the ear may become swollen in the presence of an ear infection. The swollen structures can cause further pain, hearing difficulties, and balance issues. Just like redness, swelling can be seen on the skin in the back of the ear in the case of a mastoid air cells infection. Swelling can be reduced with a steroid medication. The doctor can prescribe a steroid to be taken by pill, ear drops, or shot.
