Labyrinthitis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Ear anatomy

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Labyrinthitis

Alternative Names:

Bacterial labyrinthitis; Serous labyrinthitis

Treatment:

Labyrinthitis usually runs its course over a few weeks. However, symptoms may need treatment. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection. Medications that may reduce symptoms include the following:

antihistamines
anticholinergics
sedative-hypnotics
anti-emetics (antinausea medications)
benzodiazepines

To prevent worsening of symptoms during episodes of labyrinthitis, try the following:

Keep still and rest during attacks.
Gradually resume activity.
Avoid sudden position changes.
Do not try to read during attacks.
Avoid bright lights.

Assistance with walking may be needed during attacks. Avoid hazardous activities such as driving, operating heavy machinery, and climbing until one week after symptoms have disappeared.

Expectations (prognosis):

Recovery is usually spontaneous and hearing usually returns to normal.

Complications:

injury to self or others during attacks of vertigo
permanent hearing loss in the affected ear (rare)
spread of inflammation to other ear areas or to the brain (rare)

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if dizziness, vertigo, loss of balance, or other symptoms of labyrinthitis are present. Also call if hearing loss occurs.

Urgent or emergency symptoms include convulsions, fainting, persistent vomiting, or vertigo accompanied by fever of more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

Review Date: 7/8/2004
Reviewed By: Kevin Fung, MD, FRCS(C), Department of Otolaryngology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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