From the Research
Treatment Overview
The treatment for mastoiditis in pediatric patients typically involves a combination of medical and surgical interventions.
- Parenteral antibiotics are commonly used to treat the infection 1, 2, 3.
- Myringotomy, which involves making a small incision in the eardrum to drain fluid, may also be performed 1, 3.
- In some cases, mastoidectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the infected mastoid bone, may be necessary 1, 2, 3.
Surgical Interventions
Surgical interventions, such as mastoidectomy, are often reserved for cases where the infection is severe or has not responded to medical treatment.
- Simple mastoidectomy is a common surgical approach for treating acute mastoiditis 1, 2.
- The procedure involves removing the infected mastoid bone and draining any abscesses that may have formed 1, 2.
Conservative Management
Conservative management, which involves treating the infection with antibiotics and other medications without surgery, may be effective in some cases.
- Conservative treatment alone has been shown to have high efficacy as first-line treatment in uncomplicated cases of acute mastoiditis 4.
- However, surgical intervention may be necessary if the infection does not respond to conservative treatment or if complications arise 1, 2, 3.
Treatment Algorithms
Several studies have proposed treatment algorithms for pediatric acute mastoiditis.
- A novel diagnostic and treatment algorithm has been developed and successfully tested in a retrospective cohort of pediatric patients 3.
- The algorithm involves classifying the disease into four stages, with corresponding treatment recommendations 3.
- Another study proposed a protocol for standardizing the management of pediatric acute mastoiditis, which includes initiating broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic treatment and performing mastoidectomy if the infection fails to be controlled after 48 hours of antibiotic therapy 2.