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What are the Symptoms and Signs of Cholesteatoma?
Initial symptoms and signs of cholesteatoma may include:
- Smelly ear discharge
- Gradual hearing loss in one ear
- Pain in ear
- Feeling of pressure inside one ear
- One-sided headaches
Other serious complications due to untreated cholesteatoma which require immediate medical attention and treatment include:
- Dizziness (possible inner ear involvement)
- Numbness on one side of face
- Muscle weakness on one side of the face (due to nerve damage)
- Redness and tenderness behind the ear may indicate spread of infection to the mastoid process.
- Persistent ear discharge and high fever (due to chronic ear infection)
- Confusion and fever (due to possible brain involvement)
- Permanent loss of hearing due to damage to bones in the middle ear
References:
- US department of health and human services- National institute of Health - Cholesteatoma - (https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/10422/cholesteatoma/cases/25312)
- How Long is Long Enough to Follow up Children After Cholesteatoma Surgery? - (https://www.sbccp.org.br/arquivos/LG-2012-11-How-Long.pdf)
- An overview of chronic ear infections & cholesteatoma - (https://ent.ufl.edu/files/2013/06/Chronic-Ear-Infections-and-Cholesteatoma.pdf)
- Types of Vestibular Disorders- cholesteatoma - (https://vestibular.org/cholesteatoma)
- Chronic Otitis Media, Cholesteatoma and Mastoiditis - (https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/chronic-otitis-media-cholesteatoma-and-mastoiditis-a-to-z)
- What is a Cholesteatoma? - (https://ent-specialist.org/cholesteatoma/)
