Two years ago, Maria Shylla, 32, from Meghalaya had to be rushed to the emergency unit of a hospital with complaints of sudden and severe dizziness and nausea. She says that the symptoms began two days earlier and worsened progressively.
Shylla recalls that she experienced intermittent hearing loss in her left ear during this period. Doctors diagnosed her problem as labyrinthitis.
According to Dr Suchir Maitra, consultant for ear nose and throat or ENT, Fortis Hospital, Anandapur, Kolkata, labyrinthitis is a disorder that causes inflammation in the inner ear. It can show up as dizziness, nausea, vertigo and loss of hearing. Shylla had shown the same .
Causes
According to Dr Anish Gupta, lead ENT consultant, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, labyrinthitis commonly occurs due to a viral or bacterial infection (the latter is less common) in the inner ear. “Rarely, it can be due to fungal infection too.”
- Viral labyrinthitis often stems from respiratory infections such as the flu or common cold.
- Bacterial labyrinthitis can result from an untreated middle ear infection.
“In some cases, trauma to head can also lead to labyrinthitis and it may be secondary to meningitis,” Dr Gupta says.
Symptoms
A major symptom, according to Dr Suchir Maitra of Kolkata, is vertigo, which is an intense sensation of spinning or dizziness. Individuals with labyrinthitis may experience sudden and severe episodes of vertigo, accompanied by difficulty maintaining balance. This can result in staggering, stumbling, or even falling. According to Dr Maitra, a few other common symptoms include:
Nausea and vomiting: Vertigo can trigger feelings of nausea, which may be followed by vomiting in some cases.
Hearing loss: Labyrinthitis can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss in one or both ears. The extent of hearing loss may vary.
Tinnitus: Some individuals with labyrinthitis may experience ringing, buzzing, or other unusual sounds in the affected ear.
Earache: Ear ache or a sensation of pressure within the ear may occur, especially if labyrinthitis is caused by an infection.
“I experienced continuous spinning sensations, particularly when changing positions,” says Shylla. The dizziness was accompanied by nausea.
“The experts did an audiogram, CT scan, MRI and a few other tests,” after which it was diagnosed as labyrinthitis, says Shylla.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis methods are not complex; Specialists frequently recommend a few of these tests, according to Dr Maitra and Dr Gupta:
- Audiogram: This hearing test evaluates the extent and type of hearing loss.
- Electronystagmography (ENG) or Videonystagmography (VNG) – A series of examinations that study the inner ear by tracking and recording eye movements.
- Imaging tests: In some cases, a CT scan or MRI may be ordered to rule out other potential causes of symptoms.
Treatment
According to Dr Maitra and Dr Gupta, depending on the severity and individual circumstances, treatment options may include:
Medications: Prescription medications can help relieve symptoms.
Rehabilitation exercises: VRT or vestibular rehabilitation therapy may be recommended to improve balance and reduce dizziness. These exercises can gradually retrain the brain to compensate for the inner ear dysfunction.
“An acute attack may last up to a week and can easily be managed with IV fluids or oral medications. Hearing is recoverable in some cases,” says Dr Gupta.
Shylla was prescribed a few medications along with adequate bed rest. “I started feeling better within three to four weeks, but it took some [more] time for the symptoms to go away completely.”
Risk factors
Although there are no specific risk factors, according to Dr Maitra, overconsumption of alcohol, a history of allergies, recent viral illness, respiratory infection or ear infection, frequent smoking, increased stress, or using certain prescription or nonprescription medicines (such as aspirin) may increase the chances of developing labyrinthitis.
“Most of the time it happens after ear surgeries just at the opening of the inner ear,” he says.
People with reduced immunity face this risk, says Dr Gupta. They include people who have uncontrolled diabetes; those who undergo chemotherapy for cancer; and those who have had a renal or liver transplant.
Dr Gupta reasons that “Labyrinthitis may happen even in immunocompetent people without any risk factor.”
