Mastoiditis is a rare complication of otitis media. Typical treatment duration is:

Mastoiditis is a rare complication of otitis media. Typical treatment duration is:

• A. 5-7 days
• B. 3-4 weeks
• C. 1-2 days
• D. 6 weeks

Answer: (B)

Mastoiditis involves infection spreading into the mastoid air cells within the skull behind the ear, and bone tissue takes longer to clear infection than soft tissue. Because of bone involvement and the potential for the infection to persist despite initial improvement, antibiotic therapy must be prolonged. The standard approach is to start with intravenous antibiotics to rapidly achieve high tissue levels and then transition to oral therapy, aiming for a total duration of three to four weeks. Short courses of only a few days are inadequate to eradicate bacteria in the bony mastoid air cells and increase the risk of relapse or complications. Six weeks would generally be longer than needed for an uncomplicated case, unless there are chronic or unusual factors. If the patient worsens or there are signs of complications, surgical drainage may be considered, but the typical duration remains three to four weeks.

Mastoiditis involves infection spreading into the mastoid air cells within the skull behind the ear, and bone tissue takes longer to clear infection than soft tissue. Because of bone involvement and the potential for the infection to persist despite initial improvement, antibiotic therapy must be prolonged. The standard approach is to start with intravenous antibiotics to rapidly achieve high tissue levels and then transition to oral therapy, aiming for a total duration of three to four weeks. Short courses of only a few days are inadequate to eradicate bacteria in the bony mastoid air cells and increase the risk of relapse or complications. Six weeks would generally be longer than needed for an uncomplicated case, unless there are chronic or unusual factors. If the patient worsens or there are signs of complications, surgical drainage may be considered, but the typical duration remains three to four weeks.