Disease: Mastoiditis
Symptoms: Ear pain (particularly behind the ear), swelling and redness of the ear or the area behind the ear, fever, headache, hearing loss or impaired hearing, drainage of fluid or pus from the ear, earache, irritability (in infants and young children), tenderness or pain when touching the area, mastoid bone protrusion or swelling
Treatments: Antibiotics (oral or intravenous) to treat the underlying bacterial infection, pain relievers (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen) for pain and fever, ear drops (if there is drainage from the ear), surgical intervention (in severe or chronic cases), such as mastoidectomy (removal of infected mastoid bone cells) or tympanostomy tube placement (to relieve pressure and drain fluid from the middle ear), supportive care (rest, hydration, warm compresses)