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Vestibular Neurinitis

Vestibular neuritis, also called vestibular neruonitis, is a condition in which the affected individual suffers from vertigo and dizziness. It results from an infection of a nerve in the ear. It is a condition that affects a wide range of age groups but is not common in children.

  1. Cause

    • Vestibular neuritis is the result of a viral infection of the vestibular nerve, which carries information to the inner ear. Since the inner ear is responsible for the body's sense of equilibrium, this infection results in the symptoms of vertigo, nausea and dizziness. The medical community generally believes the condition to usually be the result of an infection from a virus of the herpes family, or possibly the varacella zoster virus.

    Occurence

    • Vestibular neuritis affects a large number of people. It is believed that vestibular neuritis and a similar condition called labrynthitis account for 5 percent of dizziness and 15 percent of all vertigo cases. Vestibular neuritis primarily affects adults.

    Diagnosis

    • Doctors make a diagnosis of vestibular neuritis by thoroughly examining the ear. The examination aims to establish confirmation of a lesion on one of the vestibular nerves. A specialist will be especially good at making the diagnosis. If the case seems very severe, the doctor may opt to perform an MRI or blood test as well.

    Treatment

    • The treatment for vestibular neuritis primarily aims to relieve the symptoms of the infection. The doctor might prescribe anti-nausea and anti-dizziness medications. Steroids have also been effective in treating some cases of vestibular neuritis. With these supportive treatments, the patient usually recovers in three weeks as the body battles the infection.

    Prognosis

    • Patients suffering from acute vestibular neuritis might not be able to work for one to two weeks. There may also be some long-term effects, such as increased sensitivity to head movement. This can last for years following the infection. This may compromise athletic ability to some degree, and some cognitive impairment is also possible.

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