Mastoiditis

[Rihanna]

Mastoiditis is a bacterial infection in the mastoid process, which is the prominent bone behind the ear.
Mastoiditis usually occurs when untreated or inadequately treated acute otitis media spreads from the middle ear into the surrounding bone—the mastoid process. Most mastoid infections are caused by pneumococcus bacteria. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have significantly decreased infection with pneumococcus bacteria, and mastoiditis is uncommon. Inadequately treated mastoiditis can result in deafness, blood poisoning (sepsis), infection of the tissues covering the brain (meningitis), brain abscess, or death.

[Hina Muqadas]

Inflammation of the mastoid process.