Labyrinthitis / Vestibular Neuritis

When you have inflammation or infection of the balance organ of the inner ear it can lead to spinning(lasting hours to days) followed by a feeling of being off balance(days to months). Most of the time it is associated with nausea and vomiting. The examinations might include a hearing test and brain scan. The difference between the two is that you have hearing loss with labyrinthitis but normal hearing with vestibular neuritis.

The treatment varies but could include antibiotics, oral steroids, anti nausea tablets and in all cases mobilisation as soon as possible. In some cases vestibular physiotherapy is needed to reach the same baseline as before the inflammation.