A condition that causes inflammation of the labyrinth (a part of the inner ear) is called labyrinthitis. While most of the time, this condition is not dangerous, sometimes, people may experience persistent vertigo. Labyrinthitis does not go away without treatment, and people who leave it untreated may experience serious complications.
In other words, labyrinthitis is an inner ear infection that occurs when the labyrinth becomes inflamed. This part of the ear (labyrinth) is responsible for hearing and the sense of balance. Furthermore, this disorder is often related to vestibular neuritis. However, labyrinthitis causes inflammation of both branches of the vestibulocochlear nerves, but vestibular neuritis causes swelling of one branch of these nerves. Usually, people with the second disorder do not have hearing problems.
What Are The Symptoms of Labyrinthitis?
Those who develop this inner ear infection often experience the following symptoms. Check some of them below:
- Dizziness
- Difficulty concentrating and focusing
- Hearing loss
- Nystagmus (involuntary eye movements)
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Vertigo
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Problems with balance
- Vision changes (such as blurred vision, double vision, and others)
If any of the symptoms listed above occur, immediately contact your healthcare professional.
Causes and Risk Factors
Commonly, people develop labyrinthitis due to viral infections. In any case, it may also happen due to bacterial infections. Check the most common causes of this inner ear infection below:
- Stomach flu
- Herpes simplex
- Upper respiratory infections
- A head injury
- Epstein-Barr virus
Healthcare professionals have also identified some factors that could increase your risk of developing labyrinthitis. Check some examples below:
- A cold or flu
- Smoking
- Alcohol use disorder
- Allergies
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Stress
- Antidepressants
- Anti-inflammatories
- Diabetes medicines
- Certain over-the-counter (OTC) medicines (such as Aspirin)
What Are The Possible Complications of Labyrinthitis?
Early detection and proper treatment usually help prevent the following complications. Examples include:
- Deafness (permanent hearing loss) – This complication affects about 30% of people with acquired labyrinthitis who do not get treatment.
- Chronic (long-term) vestibular problems – It includes vertigo (spinning sensation), long-term dizziness, or balance problems.
- Long-term tinnitus
- Inner ear damage – Without treatment, labyrinthitis can cause damage to the eighth cranial nerve, which is responsible for balance.
- Secondary infections – Rarely, this infection may spread to the central nervous system (CNS), including the brain and spinal cord. As a result, people may also develop meningitis or septic complications, which are life-threatening.
The previous list does not contain all possible labyrinthitis complications. However, you can consult with your physician about ways to reduce the risk or even prevent them.
How to Prevent Labyrinthitis?
Most of the time, labyrinthitis is a symptom of another health condition. That’s why healthcare professionals often recommend regularly washing your hands with soap and warm water, especially if you already have a cold or the flu.
Diagnosis
First, physicians will perform a physical examination to check for irregularities linked to the disease. Thereafter, they may also ask some questions about your medical history and symptoms to gather more information about your disease. However, to confirm labyrinthitis, doctors may order tests to check your hearing, balance, and other functions of the nervous system. In addition, healthcare professionals often perform the following tests and procedures to rule out other health conditions that cause similar symptoms. Check some of them below:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans
- Vestibular testing
- CT (computed tomography) scans
- Ultrasounds
Treatment
Commonly, doctors prescribe different treatments for people with labyrinthitis because they depend on several factors. Examples include the type and severity of the infection, gender, age, overall health, and preferences. In any case, healthcare professionals often prescribe medicines and physical therapy, and may also recommend home remedies to improve the effectiveness of the main treatment. Rarely, people need surgery to treat this infection.
Medicines
These include:
- Antiviral medicines
- Antibiotics
- Medicines to control nausea and dizziness (such as Fexofenadine, Diphenhydramine, and others)
- Corticosteroids (to reduce inflammation)
Physical Therapy
If you do not notice any improvements within 1-2 weeks, physicians may recommend vestibular rehabilitation therapy, which is used to manage dizziness and balance problems.
Home Remedies
- Limit or avoid alcoholic drinks
- Manage stress by using mindfulness or mediation
- Clear your eustachian tube by gargling with warm salt water
- Warm compresses
You should also avoid sudden movements when a flare-up occurs.
Surgery
This treatment option is rarely used to treat labyrinthitis. It is called labyrinthectomy, and it involves the removal of the vestibular end organs (specific, thin membranes of the inner ear). Generally, this is an end-stage labyrinthitis treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does labyrinthitis last?
Usually, the recovery time varies among people with labyrinthitis because it depends on your response to treatment and the severity of the infection. While this condition may go away without treatment (by treating the underlying condition), some people may have symptoms for 5-6 weeks.
What is the difference between vertigo and labyrinthitis?
Labyrinthitis is an infection of the inner ear, while vertigo is a symptom of this infection. It makes you feel like your surroundings are spinning around.
What autoimmune disease causes labyrinthitis?
While it happens rarely, some people who have the following disorders may also develop labyrinthitis. For example, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), systemic lupus erythematosus, and others. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any other questions.
