MASTOIDITIS Meaning and
Definition
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Mastoiditis is a medical condition characterized by the inflammation and infection of the mastoid bone, which is situated behind the ear. The mastoid bone is part of the skull and is directly connected to the middle ear. This condition typically occurs as a complication of an untreated or inadequately treated middle ear infection, such as otitis media.
The infection causing mastoiditis usually spreads from the middle ear to the mastoid air cells within the mastoid bone. These air cells are small, hollow spaces that are lined with mucous membranes. When infected, they can fill up with pus, leading to inflammation, swelling, and pain in the affected area.
Common symptoms of mastoiditis include severe ear pain, swelling behind the ear, a protrusion or redness of the ear, drainage from the ear, fever, headache, and hearing difficulties. In severe cases, the infection can spread beyond the mastoid bone to surrounding areas, resulting in potentially serious complications, such as meningitis, brain abscess, or hearing loss.
Treatment for mastoiditis typically involves a combination of antibiotics to eliminate the infection and surgical intervention, which may involve draining the pus from the mastoid air cells or, in severe cases, removing part or all of the infected mastoid bone. Prompt medical attention is crucial in preventing complications and preserving hearing function.
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Inflammation of any part of the mastoid process.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for MASTOIDITIS
- nastoiditis
- kastoiditis
- jastoiditis
- mzstoiditis
- msstoiditis
- mwstoiditis
- mqstoiditis
- maatoiditis
- maztoiditis
- maxtoiditis
- madtoiditis
- maetoiditis
- mawtoiditis
- masroiditis
- masfoiditis
- masgoiditis
- masyoiditis
- mas6oiditis
- mas5oiditis
Etymology of MASTOIDITIS
The word "mastoiditis" is derived from three different roots: "mastoid", "itis", and "oid".
The term "mastoid" comes from the Greek word "mastoeidēs", which means "breast-shaped" or "resembling a breast". It is a combination of "mastos" (meaning "breast") and "oeidēs" (meaning "resembling").
The second part of the word, "-itis", originates from the Greek word "ītis", which refers to inflammation or swelling. It typically indicates an inflamed or infected condition in medical terminology.
The final element, "-oid", is a suffix borrowed from Greek that means "resembling" or "similar to".
Therefore, combining these components, "mastoiditis" signifies an inflammation or infection of the mastoid bone, a part of the skull located behind the ear that has a shape resembling a breast.
Similar spelling words for MASTOIDITIS
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