Care and Mobility Considerations

Mastoiditis is an acute illness and in most cases it resolves completely within ten days. During this period the patient, usually a child is unwell and may need to be hospitalised. When the acute attack has resolved there should be no residual functional loss in most cases.

Some cases present a more chronic low grade inflammation usually associated with chronic suppurative otitis media. There may be recurring attacks of pain and persistent discharge from the ear. In adults there should be no persistent loss of function without any ongoing need for help with personal bodily functions or difficulties with walking. Application of ear drops and cleansing of the ear aperture may be needed in some instances but unless there is another disabling condition to prevent the individual carrying out this activity there should be no need for help.

Children form by far the largest group of cases but other than simple management and possible need for application of ear drops between acute attacks they should not need any care beyond that required for a child of the same age. Regular follow-up visits to hospital may be necessary.

In cases where complications have occurred there may be some ongoing disability. Intracranial infection may produce longer term neurological effects and in such cases medical evidence should be available to confirm any ongoing disability and this should be assessed on its own merit.

Disruption of the inner ear caused by infection spreading from the middle ear may lead to hearing loss or disturbances of balance. Such additional problems should also be evident from available information and should also be assessed as separate entities.

Variability

Apart from short term problems generated by the acute illness there should be no significant variation in the condition or level of care needed.