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Labyrinthitis

Joseph Daniel Hogue, MD, MBA and Scott Rosen, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • The sudden onset of vertigo, accompanied by sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, lasting hours to days, and caused by acute inflammation or infection of the labyrinth of the inne...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Vertigo AND sensorineural hearing loss in one ear

  • Vertigo is acute in onset and lasts hours to days.

  • Nausea and vomiting are common.

  • Fullness of affected ear

  • Tinnitus of affected ear (roa...

TREATMENT

  • Symptom management and reassurance in the acute phase

  • Vestibular suppressants as needed (see “Medication”) for severe acute attacks of vertigo only. Patients should be advised NOT to use thes...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

Follow hearing loss weekly with audiograms until hearing stabilizes. Acute vertiginous symptoms may last up to 6 weeks. Residual symptoms have b...

REFERENCES

1
Kaya  S, Schachern  PA, Tsuprun  V, et al. Deterioration of vestibular cells in labyrinthitis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol.  2017;126(2):89–95. [View Abstract on ...

SEE ALSO

Ménière Disease; Postconcussion Syndrome (Mild Traumatic Brain Injury); Tinnitus 

CODES

ICD10

  • H83.02 Labyrinthitis, left ear

  • H83.01 Labyrinthitis, right ear

  • H83.09 Labyrinthitis, unspecified ear

  • H83.0 Labyrinthitis

  • H83.03 Labyrinthitis, bilateral

SNOMED

  • 409711008 Viral labyrinthitis

  • 248170...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Episodic vertigo tends to be caused by BPPV or Ménière disease, whereas persistent vertigo with sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus is more consistent with labyrinthitis.

  • Ask patien...

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