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What Could A Recent, Painful Bump On A Child's Mastoid Bone Indicate, Given That It's Hard, Asymptomatic, And Not Movable?
Posted on
Tue, 10 May 2022
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 10 May 2022
Answered on
Wed, 30 Oct 2024
Last reviewed on
Question : I just discovered that my 6,1/2 years old daughter has a bump on the mastoid bone. the bump is asymptomatic, skin colored, hard to touch and it is not moving with the skin. my daughter mentioned that is painful when I palpate it.
she said she did not know it was there and I am confident it could not be there more than 2-3 days. she does not have any cold symptoms and did not have an ear infection in over 3 years.
she said she did not know it was there and I am confident it could not be there more than 2-3 days. she does not have any cold symptoms and did not have an ear infection in over 3 years.
Brief Answer:
Please share photos and basic bloods
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Usually, a painless lump is present for a longer duration than a few days, and it may well be that it came to your notice a few days ago. I am glad that you have clearly mentioned that she hasn't got any cold symptoms or a recent ear infection.
Purely based on the facts that you have shared with us, a cyst seems likely, or an evolving skin and subcutaneous infection. I think the latter is more likely as it is painful when pressed.
It might be useful to shine a pencil torch into the swelling in a dark room to see if the entire swelling "lights up". This may indicate that there is clear fluid in it - a sign of a possible non-infectious cyst. If, however, the light does nothing, then an infection is a possibility.
You might ask a doctor to do some blood tests like a full blood count and a C- reactive protein, which is a marker of inflammation and infection. An ultrasound might also be very diagnostic and should be considered. I would appreciate if you took a picture of the swelling and shared it with me.
Thank you. Please get back to me once you have these. Thank you for asking your question on our service.
Regards
Please share photos and basic bloods
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Usually, a painless lump is present for a longer duration than a few days, and it may well be that it came to your notice a few days ago. I am glad that you have clearly mentioned that she hasn't got any cold symptoms or a recent ear infection.
Purely based on the facts that you have shared with us, a cyst seems likely, or an evolving skin and subcutaneous infection. I think the latter is more likely as it is painful when pressed.
It might be useful to shine a pencil torch into the swelling in a dark room to see if the entire swelling "lights up". This may indicate that there is clear fluid in it - a sign of a possible non-infectious cyst. If, however, the light does nothing, then an infection is a possibility.
You might ask a doctor to do some blood tests like a full blood count and a C- reactive protein, which is a marker of inflammation and infection. An ultrasound might also be very diagnostic and should be considered. I would appreciate if you took a picture of the swelling and shared it with me.
Thank you. Please get back to me once you have these. Thank you for asking your question on our service.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Answered by
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