CLINICAL STUDY OF ACUTE MASTOIDITIS IN 11 CHILDREN

Abstract

Acute mastoiditis may be responsible for significant morbidity and life-threatening disease. The present study included 11 children who were diagnosed as having acute mastoiditis and were treated at Teikyo University Hospital between 1989 and 1998. We analyzed their symptoms, clinical characteristics, microorganisms isolated from the ears, treatment, and clinical course. In addition, we compared the patients with acute mastoiditis reported in the literature between 1981 and 1990 and 51 patients reported since then, including our 11 children. The following results were obtained. 1) Recent acute mastoiditis mostly occurred following the first episode of acute otitis media in children aged 2 years or younger. 2) The most frequent microorganism isolated from the ear was Streptococcus pneumoniae, and among them, the incidence of PISP/PRSP has increased. 3) The incidence of mastoidectomy has not decreased in recent years. Surgical managements such as incision/drainage or mastoidectomy should always be considered when periosteal abscess or osteitis seem to persist.