What causes labyrinthitis?

The most common cause of labyrinthitis is a viral infection, such as from a cold or the flu, or infection with a virus from the herpes group of viruses, which causes chickenpox, shingles or cold sores. Sometimes an ear infection can lead to labyrinthitis.

Less commonly, a bacterial infection, such as meningitis or a middle ear infection, can cause labyrinthitis. Some autoimmune conditions, allergies and medications can lead to labyrinthitis.

Labyrinthitis symptoms

Most people with labyrinthitis feel that the room is spinning. This dizziness is also known as vertigo. It can be mild, or it can be so bad it is hard to get out of bed.

Other symptoms include:

• nausea, almost like sea-sickness
• a false sense of movement
• uncontrolled eye movement
• loss of balance
• fever
• ear pain
• vomiting
• hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• fluid or pus seeping out of the ear.

Labyrinthitis diagnosis

If you have symptoms indicative of labyrinthitis, you may need to visit your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Your doctor will talk to you and examine you. The examination may include:

• asking you to move your head rapidly
• hearing tests
• eye tests
• checking your blood pressure
• checking your balance.

Your doctor may also organise tests such as an EEG, a CT scan or an MRI.

Labyrinthitis treatment

If you have been diagnosed with labyrinthitis, you may not need any treatment.

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe medications such as:

• corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in your inner ear
• vestibular suppressants for severe vertigo
• anti-nausea medications for nausea or vomiting.

If your symptoms don’t go away, you may benefit from specialised rehabilitation and physiotherapy, which can help retrain the brain to interpret balance messages from the inner ear.

You can also help ease symptoms by:

• resting on your side during dizzy episodes
• avoiding alcohol
• drinking plenty of water
• creating a low-noise, low-stress environment
• avoiding bright lights.