Ear Infection leading to pain ??

The ENT specialist will diagnose the mastoiditis with an examination of the ear. The ENT doctor may recommend tests to confirm the diagnosis. They can be:

• CT scan; MRI; X-ray; Blood tests; Fluid culture; Hearing test; Lumbar puncture or spinal tap

An ENT doctor will recommend the surgery when medications and other ear treatments don't work. The purpose of mastoidectomy surgery is to remove the diseased mastoid air cells located behind the ear. The diseased air cells are the root cause of ear infection in adults that may spread into the skull if untreated. It is performed under general anesthesia where a microscope is used for more precision and a small drill to open the mastoid bone. The ENT doctor will use suction irrigation to keep the surgical area free of bone dust and drill out the infected air cells. Later, the ENT surgeon will cover the site. The patient may be required to stay in the hospital for a day.