Acute inflammation of the inner ear – causes, symptoms, treatment

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Acute inflammation of the inner ear is characterized by nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. The ailment is popularly called labyrinthitis and is a complication of diseases such as meningitis or otitis media. Medications for inflammation of the inner ear are usually administered intravenously.

What is acute inner ear infection?

Acute inflammation of the inner ear is quite dangerous ailment, otherwise known as labyrinthitis. Inflammation in this disease affects the atrium, cochlea and three semicircular canals. The disease usually develops as a result of the transfer of inflammation from the middle ear to the inner ear, but there may be several reasons, for example, the development of the disease as a result of an injury, surgery or meningitis. Symptoms of acute inflammation of the inner ear can include dizziness, vomiting and nausea. If any symptoms of the disease appear, the patient should be on the ward as soon as possible, where an otolaryngologist is on duty. Timely diagnosis and treatment are important, as the inflammatory process can spread to nearby skull structures, potentially life-threatening.

Causes of acute inflammation of the inner ear

The disease occurs due to the presence of bacteria usually found in the middle ear. Inflammation can occur in connection with HIV, HSV or VZV. The cause may also be toxoplasmosis.

Typically, the disease is:

1. a complication of acute meningitis (less often, more often it leads to it),
2. a complication of acute otitis media,
3. a consequence of trauma to the temporal bone,
4. complication after surgery,
5. condition after chronic otitis media.

Acute inflammation of the inner ear can also be observed in the course of rubella, measles, mumps, influenza, herpes zoster or chicken pox.

Acute otitis media – symptoms

The inflammation accompanying this ailment, and thus bacterial toxins destroy the structures of the inner ear and spread to the nearby structures of the skull, which can cause serious loss of health. However, the most common symptoms that accompany otitis media are:

1. dizziness,
2. vomiting,
3. nausea,
4. partial hearing loss
5. hearing impairment,
6. feeling of general fatigue,
7. balance disorders,
8. eye twitching called nystagmus,
9. tinnitus.

Usually no pain or high temperature occurs. However, when such symptoms occur, you should immediately consult a doctor so that the patient’s condition does not worsen.

Diagnosis of acute inflammation of the inner ear

In patients with labyrinthitis, the goal of treatment is to inhibit the spread of the inflammatory process, and therefore a specific type of therapy is immediately initiated. The diagnosis of the disease is based on a clinical examination of the patient and performing an ear endoscopy, which reveals its functioning and the condition of the hearing aid. In addition, the patient’s hearing can be tested with the help of audiometry and reed tests. In order for the diagnosis to be XNUMX% certain, an X-ray image of the temporal bone and even a computed tomography of the head are performed.

Important! If there is a suspicion of cerebellar damage, it may be necessary to visit a neurologist who will perform the Romberg test – examination of coherence of movements.

Acute inflammation of the inner ear – treatment

Inflammation of the inner ear can have such severe symptoms that the patient must be treated in hospital. Drug treatment is based on the administration of an antibiotic to inhibit the inflammatory process. The preparations are administered intravenously, and sometimes the middle ear is drained so that the secretion can be easily removed. The general recommendations include limiting physical effort and eating easily digestible food in small portions.

Some patients, in whom treatment with pharmacological agents has not brought the expected benefit, should undergo surgery. Its purpose is to remove inflammation by means of mastoidectomy or labyrinthomy (removal of the labyrinth is used in the case of purulent labyrinthitis).

Complications of acute inflammation of the inner ear

Properly diagnosed disease has a very good prognosis and there is a chance for its complete cure. On the other hand, if the symptoms are ignored or inadequate medical care, the patient may experience dangerous complications.

Among the complications of acute inflammation of the inner ear we mention:

1. cerebellar abscess,
2. meningitis,
3. hearing loss (complete)
4. abscess of the temporal lobe,
5. sigmoid sinus thrombosis,
6. epidural or subdural abscess,
7. damage to the organ of balance,
8. inflammation of the temporal bone pyramid,
9. facial nerve palsy (ear-related),
10. subperiosteal abscess with mastoiditis.

Can the disease be prevented?

There are no specific methods to prevent acute inflammation of the inner ear. The essence is the thorough treatment of all inflammations located in the middle ear area.