Vertigo and Dizziness..

Are labyrinthitis and vertigo the same?

The ear has three main parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, with small bones of hearing, and the inner ear, consisting of the labyrinth. The labyrinth has two parts as well, hearing processing part and balance part. When you get an infection in the inner ear, it is often called labyrinthitis. Common symptoms for Labyrinthitis are hearing loss or vertigo, however, there are also other causes for vertigo as well.

What is the most important thing to remember when you have labyrinthitis symptoms?

In the first few hours of symptoms, it is difficult to know between stroke and labyrinthitis. If you have vertigo and notice one side of your face becoming droopy, your arms or leg become weak and speech becomes slurred, you should call for urgent help.

What is the difference between labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis?

If you only have vertigo symptoms, then it is due to vestibular neuritis. Vestibular neuritis occurs due to viral infection.

When should you call for help for labyrinthitis?

If you have ear discharge, high temperature, severe headache and ear pain, you should call for urgent advice.

How do we treat labyrinthitis?

Labyrinthitis symptoms usually will resolve within two to three weeks. Acute symptoms are best managed by bed rest, proper rehydration and using the anti-sickness medication if required.

If you have associated hearing loss with vertigo, you may need antibiotics to clear the infection. Balance rehabilitation exercises can help with early recovery from symptoms. These can be started once acute symptoms have subsided.

When do we need MRI scan for labyrinthitis patients?

Patients with severe one-sided hearing loss, headaches and persistent vertigo need to be scanned to rule out acoustic neuroma.

Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma) is rare benign non-cancer tumour arising from balance nerve. Most of these tumours are very slow-growing, and yearly MRI scans generally monitor all small non-growing tumours.

Mr Gaurav Kumar

Consultant Ear Nose Throat Surgeon

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Disclaimer: For general information only, always seek medical advice from your treating consultant.

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