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Topic Overview
What is labyrinthitis?
Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the labyrinth, the fluid-filled semicircular canals of the inner ear. It can be the result of a viral or, more rarely, bacterial infection. Bacterial labyrinthitis may develop after a middle ear infection (otitis media) or an infection of the lining of the brain (meningitis) and is a more serious condition. See an illustration that shows an inflammation of the labyrinth.
People with labyrinthitis often have a sudden onset of vertigo (a sensation of spinning or whirling) that may be severe enough to cause nausea or vomiting. The vertigo gradually goes away over a period of several days to a week. For a month or more after the initial vertigo goes away, a sudden head movement can trigger another attack of vertigo. Labyrinthitis may be accompanied by hearing loss, which may be temporary or permanent.
What causes labyrinthitis?
The specific cause of labyrinthitis usually is unknown, but the condition may occur shortly after an upper respiratory infection. Less often, it may develop after a middle ear infection (otitis media). Viral or, more rarely, bacterial ear infections may lead to labyrinthitis. Labyrinthitis caused by a bacterial infection is usually more serious and more likely to result in long-term hearing loss.
What are the symptoms of labyrinthitis?
The main symptom of labyrinthitis is vertigo, a spinning or whirling sensation you feel although neither you nor your surroundings are moving. The vertigo caused by labyrinthitis begins suddenly, without warning, and is severe enough that it often leads to nausea, but gradually goes away over a few days to weeks.
After the initial attack of vertigo goes away, there may be a period lasting a month or more when any sudden head movement can trigger vertigo.
The person also often has hearing loss and a roaring sound in the ears (tinnitus). Rarely—and generally only if the labyrinthitis is caused by a bacterial infection—the hearing loss may be permanent.
How is labyrinthitis diagnosed?
If you have vertigo, your doctor will need to find out whether it is being caused by an inflammation of the labyrinth in the inner ear—labyrinthitis—and if so, the cause of the inflammation. It can be the result of a viral or, more rarely, bacterial infection.
Your doctor will take your medical history and do a physical examination, which may provide clues to the cause of the vertigo. In particular, your doctor will look for signs of an ear infection, which can cause labyrinthitis.
If the cause of your vertigo is not clear from the medical history and physical examination, your doctor may want to do more tests.
How is labyrinthitis treated?
Labyrinthitis usually goes away on its own after the infection causing it has been eliminated. This normally requires several weeks. If the cause is bacterial, antibiotics will be prescribed. Viral infections cannot be cured with antibiotics.
Medications may be used to control nausea and vomiting caused by the vertigo.
