Infection Of Inner Ear, Symptoms, Signs & Causes
Labyrinthitis is an inner ear infection. It causes the labyrinth inside your ear to become inflamed, affecting your hearing and balance. Labyrinthitis usually starts suddenly and can be worrying. You should seek medical advice straight away.
Nivedita Dar30 Sept, 2024
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Infections of Inner Ear: clinical features, causes and complications. Inner ear is a vital structure in our body which has many important functions be it balance or hearing, no wonder it is situated inside a tight bony cage like the Petrous Bone of skull. Inner Ear Infection is also called Labyrinthitis. It causes the labyrinth inside your ear to become inflamed, affecting your hearing and balance.
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What is Labyrinth?
The labyrinth is the innermost part of the ear. It contains 2 parts: the cochlea – this sends sounds to the brain so you can hear the vestibular system – a complex set of fluid-filled tubes that affect your balance Labyrinthitis is a type of inner ear infection . It happens when your labyrinth gets inflamed. Your labyrinth is the part of your inner ear responsible for your hearing and sense of balance. Labyrinthitis is closely related to vestibular neuritis . Labyrinthitis is the swelling of both branches of your vestibulocochlear nerve. It affects both balance and hearing. Vestibular neuritis is the swelling of one branch of your vestibulocochlear nerve. It affects only balance. Anyone can get labyrinthitis. But it’s most common in adults ages 30 to 60.Read More - Radiodiagnosis
Labyrinth Symptoms and Causes
People with labyrinthitis may experience a sudden onset of symptoms, including:- Balance issues .
- Blurred vision .
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Dizziness .
- Hearing loss .
- Nausea and vomiting .
- Nystagmus (involuntary eye movements).
Causes of Labyrinthitis
Viral infections cause labyrinthitis in most cases. But bacterial infections can cause it, too. Some of the most common labyrinthitis causes include:- Epstein-Barr virus .
- Herpes simplex .
- Stomach flu .
- Upper respiratory infections .
Complications of labyrinthitis
Labyrinthitis is usually not dangerous unless it goes untreated. Without appropriate care, labyrinthitis can lead to hearing loss, increased risk of falling and permanent damage to your inner ear. Permanent hearing loss is a common side effect in children who develop labyrinthitis as a complication of meningitis (inflammation of meninges). In cases like this, you may be able to restore hearing with a cochlear implant .Read More - Pelvis and Perineum
Labyrinthitis Treatment
Treatment must be tailored to the etiology and symptoms. Viral labyrinthitis should principally be managed by hydration and bed rest in the outpatient setting. In bacterial labyrinthitis, antibiotic type and route depend on the source. If bacterial meningitis is queried, it should be treated immediately with intravenous antibiotics while performing confirmatory imaging or CSF sampling.Infection Of Inner Ear FAQs
What is Ménière’s disease?
Ménière’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear.
What is a dead ear?
A dead ear refers to total hearing loss in one ear, where no sounds can be heard or processed.
What is BPPV?
BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) is a condition where small crystals in the inner ear become dislodged, causing brief episodes of dizziness triggered by head movements.
What is labyrinthectomy?
Labyrinthectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the balance and hearing organs in the inner ear, typically done to treat severe vertigo.
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