Labyrinthitis: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the labyrinth, the part of the inner ear responsible for hearing and balance. It can cause dizziness, vertigo, loss of balance, hearing loss, nausea, and an overall feeling of discomfort.

Labyrinthitis can happen at any age, but it is more common in older adults. Possible causes include viral or bacterial infections, diabetes, high blood pressure, and emotional factors such as stress, anxiety, or depression.

Treatment should be guided by an otolaryngologist (ENT) or neurologist. Depending on the case, it may include medication to relieve symptoms, physical therapy, and an anti-inflammatory diet.

Main symptoms

The main symptoms of labyrinthitis are:

• Dizziness or vertigo.

• Loss of balance.

• Hearing loss.

• Ringing in the ears.

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Difficulty walking or keeping your balance.

• Constant headache.

Labyrinthitis symptoms usually start suddenly and can be intense enough to interfere with daily activities. They may last for minutes, hours, days, or even weeks, and usually improve gradually.

However, symptoms can come back after a few days, especially after quick head movements.

Online symptom test

If you think you may have labyrinthitis, select the symptoms you are experiencing in the test below to check your likelihood:

This test is only a tool and should not replace a medical appointment or diagnosis.

Emotional labyrinthitis

Emotional labyrinthitis happens when inflammation of the ear nerves or the labyrinth is triggered by emotional changes such as stress, anxiety, or depression.

Symptoms may include a feeling of pressure in the ear, ringing in the ears, reduced balance, dizziness, and frequent headaches. These symptoms may get worse during periods of intense stress or with sudden head movements.

Labyrinthitis during pregnancy

Labyrinthitis during pregnancy can occur as a result of normal hormonal changes. These changes may cause fluid retention and inflammation in the inner ear (labyrinth), which can trigger an episode of labyrinthitis.

Symptoms during pregnancy are the same as in people who are not pregnant, and treatment should be guided by an obstetrician.

Confirming a diagnosis

Labyrinthitis is diagnosed by an ENT or neurologist based on symptoms and the person’s health history.

To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may order an audiometry test, which measures hearing ability. Labyrinthitis is more likely to occur in people who already have some degree of hearing loss.

The doctor may also request tests such as vectoelectronystagmography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, such as vestibular neuritis, Ménière’s disease, stroke, hemorrhage, or a brain tumor.

Possible causes

Possible causes of labyrinthitis include:

• Viral infections, such as the flu, common cold, mumps, rubella, and herpes zoster.

• Bacterial infections, such as meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), and tuberculosis.

• High blood pressure.

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.

• Neurologic diseases.

• High cholesterol.

• Medication side effects.

Other factors such as head trauma, diabetes, allergies, a brain tumor, stress, fatigue, physical inactivity, smoking, and excessive alcohol intake may also contribute to labyrinthitis.

Treatment options

Treatment for labyrinthitis may include medication, diet changes, physical therapy, and home remedies.

1. Medication

Doctors often prescribe medications such as antivertigo drugs, antiemetics, and symptom relievers like meclizine or dimenhydrinate. These can help reduce dizziness, vertigo, ringing in the ears, nausea, and vomiting.

Depending on the cause of the inflammation, the doctor may also recommend other medications, such as antibiotics or anxiolytics (anxiety medications).

2. Diet

An anti-inflammatory diet may help with labyrinthitis treatment because it aims to reduce the production of substances that promote inflammation, such as prostaglandins and cytokines.

For this reason, it may help to increase intake of foods rich in vitamins, fiber, omega-3s, polyphenols, carotenoids, and flavonoids, such as tuna, sardines, salmon, strawberries, oranges, avocado, walnuts, and broccoli.

However, it’s important to avoid foods that can increase inflammation and potentially worsen or trigger a labyrinthitis flare-up. These include sugary foods, those high in salt, cookies, soda, alcoholic beverages, and caffeinated items like coffee, chocolate, black tea, and green tea.

3. Physical therapy

Physical therapy sessions for labyrinthitis, known as vestibular rehabilitation therapy, can help relieve symptoms such as dizziness and balance problems.

During these sessions, the physical therapist guides head and eye movement exercises to help reposition the crystals in the ear and improve balance.

4. Home remedies

Some home remedies, such as ginkgo biloba tea and ginger tea, may be used along with the treatment recommended by a doctor because they may help fight inflammation in the ear and improve blood circulation, which may help ease labyrinthitis symptoms.

Frequently asked questions

Some common questions about labyrinthitis include:

1. Can labyrinthitis be cured?

Yes. Labyrinthitis can improve with treatment recommended by a doctor, which may include medication, diet changes, or physical therapy.

2. Can labyrinthitis cause a stroke?

Labyrinthitis does not cause stroke. However, dizziness, which is a common symptom of labyrinthitis, can also occur during a stroke, although this is less common.

For this reason, it is important to seek emergency medical care if symptoms that could indicate a stroke appear. According to the American Stroke Association, sudden numbness or weakness, speech difficulty, and vision changes are warning signs of stroke and require immediate emergency attention.

3. Is labyrinthitis serious?

In general, labyrinthitis is a mild condition that usually improves with medical treatment in a few days or weeks.

In severe cases of bacterial infection, labyrinthitis may cause hearing loss, ringing in the ears, vision problems, loss of balance or spatial awareness, or mastoiditis, which is an inflammation of the mastoid bone located behind the ear.

Prevention tips

Some tips that may help prevent labyrinthitis episodes include:

• Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the bathroom and before preparing or eating food.

• Avoiding alcoholic drinks or consuming them in moderation.

• Not smoking.

• Keeping your cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar under control.

• Exercising regularly.

• Drinking plenty of water throughout the day.

To help prevent labyrinthitis, it’s also recommended to follow a healthy, balanced diet that focuses on natural foods and limits ultra-processed options like instant noodles, breakfast cereals, ready-made sauces, sausages, and soft drinks.