What causes the bone behind your ear to hurt?
What causes the bone behind your ear to hurt?
The bone behind your ear is called the mastoid bone, which is part of your skull. If this bone becomes painful and red, you may have a very serious infection called mastoiditis. Mastoiditis is more common in children but can occur in adults and is usually caused by an untreated middle ear infection.
What is the bone sticking out behind my ear?
The mastoid is located just behind the ear. Mastoiditis is an infection of the bony air cells in the mastoid bone, located just behind the ear. It is rarely seen today because of the use of antibiotics to treat ear infections.
How do you know if your mastoid bone is infected?
Mastoiditis Diagnosis Any earache with fever or posterior ear tenderness, redness or swelling should be evaluated by a doctor. The doctor will first look for infection inside the ear with an instrument (called an otoscope). Mastoiditis is uncommon without a coinciding ear infection.
Why is my mastoid bone swollen?
Causes of mastoiditis The mastoid bone has a honeycomb-like structure that contains air spaces called mastoid cells. Mastoiditis can develop if the mastoid cells become infected or inflamed, often following a persistent middle ear infection (otitis media). Cholesteatoma can also cause mastoiditis.
How do you get mastoiditis?
Mastoiditis can develop if the mastoid cells become infected or inflamed, often following a persistent middle ear infection (otitis media). Cholesteatoma can also cause mastoiditis. This is an abnormal collection of skin cells inside the ear which may prevent the ear draining properly, leading to infection.
What can be mistaken for mastoiditis?
Beware: there are other diseases that can mimic mastoiditis: Postauricular swelling may be caused by external otitis and postauricular lymphadenitis and may be confused with acute mastoiditis.
How do you rule out mastoiditis?
Share on Pinterest A doctor can usually diagnose mastoiditis by looking at the swelling. A doctor can usually diagnose mastoiditis, depending on symptoms and by looking at the swelling. Sometimes blood work or imaging scans of the ear can help rule out other causes. Antibiotics can usually treat mastoiditis.
What causes sores behind the ears?
The common cold can lead to a person having a sore ear. When nasal or sinus congestion is present, the added pressure in the nasal cavity can cause pressure to build up behind the ears, causing pain.
What is a painful lump behind the ear?
A painful lump behind the ear can be caused due to an abscess, a collection of pus developed when tissues or cells are infected by bacteria or mastoiditis , a bacterial infection that affects the mastoid bone or swollen lymph nodes behind the ear.
What are the symptoms of pain behind the ears?
Pain behind the ear can often be caused by infection, like Swimmer’s ear, dental complications, or swollen lymph nodes behind the ear. Sharp pain behind the ear can also be associated with headaches, jaw pain, or pain located in the back of the neck.
What causes sharp pain behind the ear?
The eardrum contains the small vibrating bones of the ear. Otitis media can cause sharp pain behind ear and is more common in kids than adults. The frequent pain is usually caused by inflammation and the accumulation of fluids in the middle ear.
