society and community | February 17, 2026

What is mastoid sinus disease?

What is mastoid sinus disease?

Mastoiditis is an inflammation or infection of the sinus behind the middle ear (Mastoid sinus). This can be often seen on imaging studies such as MRI (see below).

What are the symptoms of a mastoid infection?

The symptoms of mastoiditis typically include:

  • redness, tenderness and pain behind the ear.
  • swelling behind the ear that can cause it to stick out.
  • discharge from the ear.
  • a high temperature, irritability and tiredness.
  • headache.
  • hearing loss in the affected ear.

Can mastoiditis be caused by sinus infection?

Incidence, Treatment for Intracranial Complications Due to Sinusitis, Mastoiditis Profiled. Paranasal sinus infections and ear infections are the most common causes of intracranial abscesses, a complication from sinusitis and mastoiditis that have decreased dramatically in this post-antibiotic era.

What does mastoid pain feel like?

Mastoiditis. In adults, symptoms of mastoiditis typically include severe pain behind the ear, fever, and headache. Young children tend to be quite sick, irritable, and have a fever. Children may pull on their affected ear or complain of ear pain, if they can talk.

How do you get rid of mastoid sinuses?

If the symptoms don’t quickly improve on IV antibiotics, or complications, like an abscess or bone erosion are present, surgery to remove the infected mastoid bone may be recommended. This is called a mastoidectomy. Chronic mastoiditis is treated with oral antibiotics, eardrops, and regular ear cleanings by a doctor.

What antibiotic treats mastoiditis?

Treatment is with antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone, and mastoidectomy if drug therapy alone is not effective. , inflammation often extends into the mastoid antrum and air cells in the temporal bone, resulting in fluid accumulation.

Can sinus cause pain behind ear?

Signs and Symptoms Sinus headaches involve pressure or pain in the forehead, brow, below or behind the eye, behind the ear, and, occasionally, sensitivity in the upper gums. This pain is typically constant and on one side, but it may be on both sides of the head.

Can mastoiditis go away on its own?

Mastoiditis cannot be treated at home. It requires medical treatment, as the infection can spread and cause serious complications. Most of the home treatments are aimed at reducing symptoms of an ear infection, which is the most common cause of mastoiditis.

Is mastoiditis hard or soft?

Mastoiditis is a serious infection in the mastoid process, which is the hard, prominent bone just behind and under the ear.

What does it mean if the bone behind your ear hurts?

Mastoiditis is most often caused by a middle ear infection (acute otitis media). The infection may spread from the ear to the mastoid bone. The bone has a honeycomb-like structure that fills with infected material and may break down. The condition is most common in children.

Will mastoiditis go away without antibiotics?

If left untreated, mastoiditis can cause serious, even life-threatening, health complications, including hearing loss, blood clot, meningitis, or a brain abscess. But with early and appropriate antibiotic treatment and drainage, these complications can usually be avoided and you can recover completely.