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Labyrinthitis

Joseph Daniel Hogue, MD, MBA and Esha Rajiv Sharma, MPH, MD Reviewed 06/2022
 


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

  • Can be categ...

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

  • Ask patients to describe symptoms in their own words; alternative symptoms include light-headedness, vertigo, disequilibrium, or imbalance.

  • Benzodiazepines are better vestibular suppres...

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