[Acute mastoiditis in children].

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.