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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Labyrinthitis?
Question: I went to see my GP 6 weeks ago as I was experiencing feelings of mild dizziness, ear pain and a very strong feeling of not being properly connected with the world (if that makes sense?) I had been quite ill with a virus that my children had (headache, 40 degree fever) a couple of weeks before and hadn't felt properly better but the symptons of the ear ache, dizziness and feeling spaced out came on quite suddenly.
My GP said that I had Labrynthitis and said that it should pass in a week or two. It has now been 6 weeks and the symptons are still there. I am managing to cope with daily life, just, but I find the feeling of 'looking in' to my life, rather than being in it quite overwhelming. About a week ago, I got a sore throat and chesty cough, which has made the symptons worse and has, I'm sure, delayed any recovery.
I have read that the normal parameters of recovery for Labrynthitis are 3-8 weeks so I just wanted to check if I should be starting to feel better if it is going to clear up in that timeframe and what it means if things go on longer than that? Would that mean that there has been permanent damage to my ears? Can it take longer than 8 weeks to clear, without it meaning that I am going to have it for years (like a lot of people who post online seem to have)?
I thankfully do not have the strong vertigo feelings which seem common with Labrynthitis so should I be looking at any other explanations?
Thank you for your help.
XXXX
My GP said that I had Labrynthitis and said that it should pass in a week or two. It has now been 6 weeks and the symptons are still there. I am managing to cope with daily life, just, but I find the feeling of 'looking in' to my life, rather than being in it quite overwhelming. About a week ago, I got a sore throat and chesty cough, which has made the symptons worse and has, I'm sure, delayed any recovery.
I have read that the normal parameters of recovery for Labrynthitis are 3-8 weeks so I just wanted to check if I should be starting to feel better if it is going to clear up in that timeframe and what it means if things go on longer than that? Would that mean that there has been permanent damage to my ears? Can it take longer than 8 weeks to clear, without it meaning that I am going to have it for years (like a lot of people who post online seem to have)?
I thankfully do not have the strong vertigo feelings which seem common with Labrynthitis so should I be looking at any other explanations?
Thank you for your help.
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Need more information.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for your query.
As your GP said you have labyrinthitis since 6 weeks, not resolving. I would want to know few more details.
1. Treatment history.
2. Are you doing any vestibular rehabilitation exercises.
3. Are you having tinnitus and hearing loss.
Please answer my questions so that I can help you better.
Waiting for your reply.
Thanks.
Need more information.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for your query.
As your GP said you have labyrinthitis since 6 weeks, not resolving. I would want to know few more details.
1. Treatment history.
2. Are you doing any vestibular rehabilitation exercises.
3. Are you having tinnitus and hearing loss.
Please answer my questions so that I can help you better.
Waiting for your reply.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Thanks for your quick reply.
I have tinnitus in my right ear and some hearing loss, although not a debilitating level. Most of the pain that I am experience is in my right ear.
The GP checked inside my ears, which looked fine and told me to rest, so prescribed no treatment.
I visited a second GP a couple of weeks later and she diagnosed BPPV. She performed some exercises on me whilst I was in the surgery, which didn't help and suggested that I do a weekly set of exercises at home, which I did but again, they didn't relieve symptoms. I have not done any other vestibular rehabilitation exercises.
I went to see a private GP near my parents' house as we were about to go on holiday for 2 weeks and I wanted to see if there was any chance that the Labrynthitis was bacterial. She prescribed a week course of Amoxicillin, which did relieve some of the sinus/head pressure that I was feeling but didn't relieve the other symptoms.
I hope that this helps,
XXXX
I have tinnitus in my right ear and some hearing loss, although not a debilitating level. Most of the pain that I am experience is in my right ear.
The GP checked inside my ears, which looked fine and told me to rest, so prescribed no treatment.
I visited a second GP a couple of weeks later and she diagnosed BPPV. She performed some exercises on me whilst I was in the surgery, which didn't help and suggested that I do a weekly set of exercises at home, which I did but again, they didn't relieve symptoms. I have not done any other vestibular rehabilitation exercises.
I went to see a private GP near my parents' house as we were about to go on holiday for 2 weeks and I wanted to see if there was any chance that the Labrynthitis was bacterial. She prescribed a week course of Amoxicillin, which did relieve some of the sinus/head pressure that I was feeling but didn't relieve the other symptoms.
I hope that this helps,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
please consult ent specialist and get treated.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for your follow up query.
First of all, you have not consulted a specialist, that is where the disease is not diagnosed and treated properly.
In my opinion, you might be having a inner ear disease. Dizziness, tinnitus, hearing loss, all are the features of peripheral vestibular disorder like meneires disease, bppv, labrynthitis , viral infection etc.
Each disease has different clinical manifestation and different medication.
If I were your treating doctor, I would have examined you first ,and then evaluated you by getting routine blood work, Liver Function Tests, Renal Function Tests, Lipid profile, uric acid, thyroid profile.
Audiometry test and tympanometry to detect the inner ear status.
Depending on the report, I would have advised labrynthine sedatives like cinnarizine 25 to 50 mg.
Along with this, betahistine tablet, acetazolamide in cases of Menieres, steroid in cases of labyrinthitis, antiviral drug in cases of viral infection, antibiotics in cases of bacterial infection.
Vestibular rehabilitation exercises will surely help.
All this needs clinical evaluation and treatment.
I would suggest you to consult with the doctor and get evaluated properly. Hope my answers have helped you pleased to help you further.
Thanks.
please consult ent specialist and get treated.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for your follow up query.
First of all, you have not consulted a specialist, that is where the disease is not diagnosed and treated properly.
In my opinion, you might be having a inner ear disease. Dizziness, tinnitus, hearing loss, all are the features of peripheral vestibular disorder like meneires disease, bppv, labrynthitis , viral infection etc.
Each disease has different clinical manifestation and different medication.
If I were your treating doctor, I would have examined you first ,and then evaluated you by getting routine blood work, Liver Function Tests, Renal Function Tests, Lipid profile, uric acid, thyroid profile.
Audiometry test and tympanometry to detect the inner ear status.
Depending on the report, I would have advised labrynthine sedatives like cinnarizine 25 to 50 mg.
Along with this, betahistine tablet, acetazolamide in cases of Menieres, steroid in cases of labyrinthitis, antiviral drug in cases of viral infection, antibiotics in cases of bacterial infection.
Vestibular rehabilitation exercises will surely help.
All this needs clinical evaluation and treatment.
I would suggest you to consult with the doctor and get evaluated properly. Hope my answers have helped you pleased to help you further.
Thanks.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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