What are the causes of labyrinthitis?

Labyrinthitis is usually caused by a virus and sometimes by bacteria. Having a cold or flu can trigger the condition. Less often, an ear infection may lead to labyrinthitis. Other causes include allergies or certain medicines that are bad for the inner ear.

What medications can cause labyrinthitis?

Table 1. Examples of medicines that may cause vertigo (this is not an exhaustive list)

Medicine Class	Examples
Antibiotics	aminoglycosides, macrolides, minocycline, nitrofurantoin, sulfamethoxazole
Anticonvulsants	levetiracetam, phenytoin, pregabalin
Anti-inflammatories	celecoxib, parecoxib, naproxen, prednisone

Does labyrinthitis go away on its own?

Most of the time, labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis go away on their own. This normally takes several weeks. If the cause is a bacterial infection, your doctor will give you antibiotics. But most cases are caused by viral infections, which can’t be cured with antibiotics.

How do you catch labyrinthitis?

Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis aren’t contagious. This means you can’t catch them directly from someone who already has them. But you may catch infections such as a cold or flu from someone else, that can then trigger viral labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis.

Can labyrinthitis keep coming back?

Will my Labyrinthitis re-occur? Whilst this is very unlikely, some patients may suffer a return of symptoms. This is often triggered by stress, extreme tiredness and/or following a different illness or period of prolonged inactivity and may leave you feeling more unsteady.

How do you get rid of labyrinthitis naturally?

Home remedies that may help relieve symptoms of labyrinthitis include warm compresses on the affected ear, saltwater gargle, not smoking, and over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. Labyrinthitis is not contagious; however, the viruses and bacteria that cause ear infections can be.

Can labyrinthitis cause permanent damage?

In most cases, labyrinthitis doesn’t cause any problems. In rare cases, labyrinthitis causes lasting (permanent) damage to the eighth cranial nerve. This can cause lasting problems with balance, and part or total hearing loss. You might need to use a hearing aid.

Does walking help labyrinthitis?

You may need a cane or other help walking when symptoms are severe. Avoid bright lights, TV, and reading during a vertigo attack. They may make symptoms worse. Avoid activities such as driving, operating heavy machinery, and climbing while you are having symptoms.

Is Labrynthitis serious?

Labyrinthitis is not life-threatening. In most cases, hearing and balance return to normal over time. Symptoms of vertigo and dizziness usually only last for a few days. Most people make a full recovery provided that they receive proper treatment, especially for bacterial labyrinthitis.

Is labyrinthitis caused by a virus?

Labyrinthitis is usually caused by a viral infection, such as a cold or flu, so antibiotics will not help. But a GP may prescribe antibiotics if they think your infection is bacterial.

What causes labyrinthitis in adults?

What happens if the Labyrinth is infected?

When one of the nerves or the labyrinth is infected, it can become inflamed and irritated. This can cause it to not work normally. It may cause hearing loss in one ear. The brain now has to make sense of the information that doesn’t match between the normal nerve and the infected one.

Can labyrinthitis cause permanent damage to the inner ear?

Early diagnosis and treatment of labyrinthitis can reduce the risk of permanent damage to the inner ear. Severe cases of labyrinthitis can result in permanent damage to the vestibular system and varying degrees of hearing loss. Labyrinthitis can also lead to a condition known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

What are the symptoms of serous labyrinthitis?

The symptoms of serous labyrinthitis include: 1 mild vertigo 2 nausea or vomiting More