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What is chronic otomastoiditis?

Dec 29, 2022 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Jiang Weimin
Introduction
Chronic mastoiditis of the middle ear is a type of otitis media. The middle ear includes the tympanic cavity, eustachian tube, antrum, and mastoid process. Invasion of the middle ear by viruses or bacteria can cause symptoms such as ear pain, fluid accumulation in the ear canal, and hearing loss. If otitis media is not treated promptly, inflammation may spread from the tympanic cavity and eustachian tube to the mastoid process. Incomplete treatment of acute mastoiditis, with repeated episodes, can lead to chronic mastoiditis.

Many people don't fully understand chronic mastoiditis and are unsure exactly what kind of disease it is. What is chronic mastoiditis?

What Is Chronic Mastoiditis?

Chronic mastoiditis is a type of otitis media (middle ear infection). The middle ear includes the tympanic cavity, eustachian tube, antrum, and mastoid process. When viruses or bacteria invade the middle ear, symptoms such as ear pain, fluid accumulation in the ear canal, and hearing loss may occur. If otitis media is not treated promptly, inflammation can spread from the tympanic cavity and eustachian tube to the mastoid. Incomplete treatment of acute mastoiditis, along with recurrent episodes, may lead to chronic mastoiditis.

If chronic mastoiditis is diagnosed, patients are advised to seek medical attention promptly and have their condition evaluated by a doctor. It's important to eliminate triggers of recurrent ear infections. Systemic diseases should be actively treated if present, and if cholesteatoma is found in the middle ear, radical mastoidectomy should be performed as early as possible. For patients with significant ear discharge, ofloxacin otic drops may be used.

Medication alone is generally ineffective for treating chronic mastoiditis. It is recommended that you visit a professional otorhinolaryngology hospital for targeted treatment. If there is no obvious bone damage in your ear, hearing function may still be recoverable. Under normal circumstances, patients with mastoiditis require surgical intervention to achieve full recovery. Since mastoiditis represents a progression of otitis media, once the pus-filled cavity breaks through the mastoid wall and spreads intracranially, it can lead to meningitis. Additionally, without knowing the exact location of the opening, perforation of the eardrum due to otitis media could pose a risk of facial paralysis.


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