Mastoiditis, Mainstream and Homeopathic Treatment

Mastoiditis, Mainstream and Homeopathic Treatment

Mastoiditis is a bacterial infection in the mastoid process, it can occur as a result of of a case of purulent acute otitis media. The infection extends into the mastoid antrum and cells, preventitive measures with appropriate antibiotics, prevents the destruction of the bony portions of the mastoid process. If untreated, or if treatment fails to work, the mastoid bone fills with infected materials and the honeycomb-like structure of the mastoid bone may deteriorate. A post auricular subperiosteral abscess may develop, as the lateral mastoid cortex is destroyed. Redness, swelling, and tenderness develop over the mastoid process, and the pinna is displaced laterally.

Mastoiditis, Mainstream and Homeopathic Treatment

The pain associated with acute otitis media, is intensified, as also are the otorrhea and fever. The pain is usually of an unrelenting throbbing nature, and is usually associated with a creamy profuse discharge. A culture of the otorrhea is taken, to determine the appropriate antibiotic. The signs and symptoms may include:headache,. redness of the ear, swelling of the ear lobe., fever. and extreme discomfort.The eardrum is inflamed with swelling of the ear canal wall. Mastoiditis mostly occurs in infants, between the age of 6 to 12 months, its incidence in on the increase in developing countries, and is uncommon in the US. Although treatment of mastoiditis consists of intense parenteral (intravenous or intramuscular) antibiotic therapy, and mostly it is brought under control, however, if there is evidence of recurrent, or persistent infection, or signs of intracranial complications, a mastoidectomy is performed.

Mastoiditis, Mainstream and Homeopathic Treatment

Homeopathic treatment of a case of mastoiditis in such a young infant, is not beyond the scope of homeopathy, however, the homeopath would need to work closely with a medical doctor, so that the progress of the treatment could be closely monitored. There are a number of remedies which could be used, according to the presenting symptoms aurum metallicum, calcarea phosphoricum, cantharis, capsicum, ferrum phosphoricum , hepar sulph, lachesis, phosphorus, and silica.

If the decay of the mastoid process is threatening, then the following remedies would be considered: aurum metallicum, capsicum, carbo animalis, fluoric acid, hepar sulph, lachesis, nitricum acidum, and silica. Treating such a young infant homeopathically, would require powers of intense obvervation, coupled with the skills of the medical doctor in attendance. Since so much of homeopathic prescribing, involves extensive case taking as well as observation, the former would not be available in treating infants, one would have to rely on gut instinct and the mother's observations.

Although a medical diagnosis indicates where the problem lies, what it can not do is indicate how the individual experiences the pain. Because homeopathy needs to individuallize each case, the prescriber needs to know all aspects of the individual's coping mechanisms. Whereas, mainstream medicine treats all otitis media cases with the same antibiotics, the only difference being, the choice of antibiotic to suit the bacteria found in the ottorhea.