Labyrinthitis: symptoms, causes, treatment

Definition

What is labyrinthitis?

Labyrinthitis (inner ear infection) is inflammation of the inner ear that can cause balance disorders. This condition is also known as vestibular neuritis.

Inflammation in an inner ear infection occurs in the ear structure called the labyrinth, which functions as a balance regulator. If you experience irritation, the maze sends the wrong signal to the brain.

Ear inflammation may often be associated with hearing loss, vertigo (spinning sensation), loss of balance, and nausea.

How common is this condition?

Labirinitis is a condition that generally affects more women than men. Inner ear infection occurs also can affect patients at any age.

The disease can be overcome by reducing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of labyrinthitis?

Symptoms of labyrinthitis may appear suddenly, usually alternate, and last from less than a minute to several hours or days. People can suffer from vertigo, which usually gets worse with changing positions quickly.

Other symptoms include:

Dizzy
Feeling shaky
Lost balance
Nausea
Ringing in the ears (tinnitis)
Tired
Feeling sick
Gag

Hearing slowly normalizes in most people, usually within two weeks. However, in certain cases, this ear inflammation can last for more than six weeks.

Some of the other symptoms or signs may not be listed above. If you feel anxious about these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.

When to go to the doctor

If you have any signs or symptoms listed above or experience any of the following, contact your doctor immediately:

Headache
Fever
Stiff or sore neck

Every body acts differently from one another. Discuss with your doctor to find the best solution in your situation.

Cause

What causes labyrinthitis?

Labyrinthitis is inflammation of the membrane labyrinth. Quoted from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, this condition can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or other diseases. Here's the explanation.

Viral labyrinthitis

The most common cause of labyrinthitis is a viral upper respiratory tract infection. Inflammation of the labyrinth due to infection with rubella or cytomegalovirus is the most common cause of congenital deafness.

Bacterial labyrinthitis

Bacterial labyrinthitis usually results from bacterial meningitis or otitis media. Some children with bacterial meningitis will experience hearing or vestibular (inner ear and brain) symptoms.

Other diseases

A number of diseases have been shown to be associated with inflammation of the labyrinth. Some of them are syphilis and HIV.

Risk factors

What increases the risk of labyrinthitis?

There are many risk factors for labyrinthitis, namely:

Drinking too much alcohol
Fatigue
Allergy history
Has recently suffered from a disease caused by a virus, respiratory disease, or ear infection
Smoke
Stress
Taking certain prescription or nonprescription drugs (such as aspirin)

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the treatment options for labyrinthitis?

Labyrinthitis is an ear disease that usually goes away on its own, usually within a few days to two weeks. Your doctor may give meclizine to treat the dizziness caused by this condition.

Lying with your eyes closed in a dark room will help heal any severe pain or dizziness. Change positions, such as getting up from lying down, slowly.

Head movements, called the Epley maneuver, can be a solution to help relieve dizziness. Also, it is very important to drink lots of water or other fluids, as dehydration can worsen these ear inflammation symptoms.

Antibiotics can't help, because most cases of labyrinthitis aren't caused by a bacterial infection. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics only if they suspect a bacterial infection.

What are the most common tests to diagnose this condition?

The doctor makes a diagnosis from the symptoms and examination (especially the eyes, ears, nose, and throat). A slightly red nose or throat can occur due to a viral infection.

Sometimes, doctors may do special tests for other symptoms such as hearing loss. Your doctor may recommend visiting an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist or a neurologist (nervous system disease specialist). X-rays and other laboratory tests are usually not needed.