As a mother, I know it's better to be safe than sorry because even a small and seemingly insignificant detail can be the start of a serious infection. For my child, the first symptom is usually a loss of appetite. If they refuse homemade chicken soup, I know something is wrong. But can every illness be predicted? The key is to carefully observe your child and act as soon as any concerning symptoms arise, including red marks or lines behind the ear.
A red line behind the ear - a sign of a serious illness
On the Instagram account Medical Education (@med.learn), which shares various videos and photos about the latest treatment methods for certain illnesses, an unusual photo was posted. It shows the back of a young girl’s ear. What’s unusual about it? The child has a red line or mark behind her ear, which indicates a serious illness - acute mastoiditis.
Acute mastoiditis is a serious bacterial infection of the mastoid bone, which occurs as a result of acute otitis media (AOM). Mastoiditis results from an infection involving the air cells and presents as inflammation of the bone, the post explains.
This illness is usually a complication of acute or chronic otitis media. In most cases, it occurs in preschool-aged children and requires specialized treatment.
How to recognize inflammation?
The red line is not the only symptom of mastoiditis. Other symptoms include ear pain, discharge, and, in many cases, a high fever that is difficult to reduce. Swelling may also occur. These symptoms should never be ignored, and it is crucial to see a specialist to start proper treatment.
Unfortunately, fighting this illness can take time because medications (due to the location of the infection) take longer to reach the affected area. Sometimes, sequential therapy, including the use of injections, is necessary.
