This can cause nerve loss and deafness as well as severe imbalance and dizziness. The thin plate of bone that separates the roof of the ear from the brain can also be eroded by cholesteatomas. This exposes the covering of the brain. In extreme situations, it can lead to brain infection and other severe complications. Cholesteatoma is a serious condition and, when diagnosed, requires prompt treatment.
Medical treatment concentrates on drying the infection within the ear.
Antibiotics, drops for the ear, and powders for the ear combined with cleaning of the ear under the surgical microscope, can clear up the infection. The polyps can shrink or may have to be surgically removed before the infection will clear up. In some cases, intravenous antibiotics may have to be given to clear up a severe infection. This helps pre-surgical planning. The mastoid bone is the bone located behind the ear.