Labyrinthitis

Inner ear inflammation affecting both hearing and balance

Overview

Labyrinthitis is inflammation of the labyrinth of the inner ear, affecting both the vestibular organs and the cochlea. It resembles vestibular neuritis in causing sudden severe vertigo, nausea, and imbalance, but adds hearing loss and tinnitus because the cochlea is involved. Viral infection is the usual cause, often following an upper respiratory illness. Bacterial labyrinthitis is rarer but more destructive and can arise from spread of middle ear infection, cholesteatoma, or meningitis, and is treated as a medical emergency. Serous labyrinthitis refers to inflammation from nearby infection without direct bacterial invasion. Hearing may recover fully, partially, or not at all. Treatment depends on the cause and may include corticosteroids, antibiotics for bacterial forms, and short term symptom relief. Vestibular rehabilitation supports balance recovery, and hearing aids or cochlear implants are used when permanent hearing loss results.