A Case of Latent Mastoiditis

The advent of broad spectrum antibiotics has allowed easily to treat patients with acute otitis media, and it has altered the clinical features and the course of acute mastoiditis. Acute mastoiditis is not a single clinical entity, but can present clinically either latent mastoiditis or classical mastoiditis. The expression of latent mastoiditis and masked mastoiditis are both in use. Classical mastoiditis with typical signs and symptoms has been largely replaced by a more chronic picture of latent or masked mastoiditis. Recently, the author experienced a 14-year-old girl with latent mastoiditis, of which the clinical features and course were masked by the prior antibiotic theraphy, and successfully treated with simple mastoidectomy and postoperative antibiotic therapy.