Mastoiditis

I am a 47 year old female who was just diagnosed with mastoiditis.  In October  2010 I went to the doctor with and ear ache.  (I saw a PA due to my doctor being out of the office) She stated I had fluid behind my ears but no ear infection. She perscribed MusinexD.  I took it and my ear ache went away. About a month later I started having a fullness feeling behind right ear and what I thought was a possible a swollen gland due to my neck was stiff (on that side only) also a head ache (daily) and a off and on sharp pain in my right eye( then water afterward).  I can press on my neck and mastoid bone and it doesn't hurt at all but my neck is stiff on that side.  In December 2010 I went to see my regular doctor my ears were clear(no fluid), no nasal drainage or sinus pain everything was good except the stiff neck and fullness feeling behind my right ear.  She said if she really wanted to know she could do a CT scan to be sure but changed her mind and perscribed Levaquin 500 MG 1 tablet once a day for 14 days. Do I still need a CT scan to make sure?  I have no fever and feel quite well except for the right side neck stiffness. No headache, no drainage. What do you think?

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. You had a middle ear infection which extended to the mastoid bone. Antibiotics and painkillers have relieved the symptoms. Even pressing the right mastoid bone is not painful. So since you are clinically much better, no further CT scan is required to unnessarily check. You must however take caution because any repeat upper respiratory tract infection can infect the ear and the mastoid again, warranting mastoidectomy ok. Take care.