mastoiditis

1 8.6

An infection of the bone behind the ear that causes pain and swelling

noun
/ˌmæstəʊɪˈdaɪtɪs/

Specialized

: mastoiditis

Symptoms of mastoiditis may include fever, pain behind the ear, and a discharge from the ear canal.
diagnosis of mastoiditis
diagnosing mastoiditis
chronic mastoiditis

Examples

Evaluation by an otolaryngologist should be reserved for signs of mastoiditis, including indications of AOM with postauricular swelling and erythema.

Academic text (2008)
The doctor diagnosed him with mastoiditis after he experienced severe ear pain and swelling near his ear.
Many times, patients have been told they have mastoiditis but have received little additional counseling.

Academic text (2008)
Most had no physical findings suggestive of mastoiditis.

Academic text (2008)
Our 28 patients were clearly outside the pediatric age group, in which AOM and mastoiditis are typically found.

Academic text (2008)
Dr. Roland: The incidence of mastoiditis probably relates in some way to chronicity.

Academic text (2002)
Our findings reinforce our belief that MRI is undesirable as a screening study for mastoiditis.

Academic text (2008)
Mastoiditis is a factor in children with a discharging grommet, otitis media with effusion, or acute otitis media.

Academic text (2002)
Children with untreated ear infections can develop mastoiditis, leading to serious complications.

Surface Forms

mastoiditis singular

mastoiditides plural

Morphology

mastoiditis = mastoid (semi-transparent) = mastoid + itis

The suffix '-itis' is a common medical suffix indicating inflammation, but 'mastoid' may not be familiar to all learners.

Etymology

Mastoiditis comes from the Greek parts masto- meaning 'breast' because the bone behind the ear is a small, breast-like shape, and -itis meaning 'inflammation', as in tonsillitis. So, mastoiditis is an 'inflammation' of the mastoid bone behind the ear.