Description
We retrospectively studied seventeen cases of acute mastoiditis admitted to the Paediatric Ward of S. Francisco Xavier Hospital during 8 years and 8 months. Seven patients were admitted in 1995. We found no reason for this increase. Eleven children were male and 5 were under 2 years of age. All cases, except one of post-traumatic mastoiditis, occurred after acute otitis media. Only 5 children referred symptoms for more than seven days before admission. Seven patients had surgery. The surgical group of children had a longer period of illness when compared to those only treated medically (7.6 versus 3.9 days). Tympanocentesis was performed in 6 patients, but it did not affect the outcome of the illness. In three children there were complications: Bezold abscess, labyrinthitis and cholesteatoma. The latter was the only patient in our series with permanent hearing loss. We retrospectively studied seventeen cases of acute mastoiditis admitted to the Paediatric Ward of S. Francisco Xavier Hospital during 8 years and 8 months. Seven patients were admitted in 1995. We found no reason for this increase. Eleven children were male and 5 were under 2 years of age. All cases, except one of post-traumatic mastoiditis, occurred after acute otitis media. Only 5 children referred symptoms for more than seven days before admission. Seven patients had surgery. The surgical group of children had a longer period of illness when compared to those only treated medically (7.6 versus 3.9 days). Tympanocentesis was performed in 6 patients, but it did not affect the outcome of the illness. In three children there were complications: Bezold abscess, labyrinthitis and cholesteatoma. The latter was the only patient in our series with permanent hearing loss.
; Flores, P 
