La vestibular neuronitis is characterized by the sudden appearance of intense dizziness. The sufferer has the feeling that they are spinning around or that the outside environment is spinning around them. Dizziness is accompanied by nausea and sometimes vomiting.

The symptoms are so intense that the repos in bed is often needed for 2 or 3 days, sometimes up to 1 week.

Then, the recovery is done slowly and gradually. Symptoms go away within 6 weeks, on average. During the following months, it is possible that certain movements cause loss of balance.

Although the symptoms may seem very disturbing, vestibular neuronitis is not a serious disease in itself. The vast majority of people will only havea single crisis during their lifetime.

Prevalence

No precise statistics are available on the prevalence of vestibular neuronitis. About 15% of dizziness is thought to be caused by this condition¹.

Vestibular neuronitis is usually seen in adults from 20 to 60 years old. It affects both men and women in all regions of the world.

Causes

The origin of this disease is not well known. Experts believe it would be a complication an infection by virus. They derive this hypothesis from the fact that vestibular neuronitis usually occurs at the same time as a respiratory tract infection, such as the flu or sinusitis, or in the days that follow. Moreover, vestibular neuronitis is more common in hiver and spring.

This infection would reach the vestibular nerve inside the ear. This nerve branches out and connects the organs involved in thebalanced (vestibule and semicircular canals) to the brain (see diagram). Only one ear would be affected. Therefore, the information about the positioning of the body in space that reaches the brain would not be the same in both ears. This would give rise to dizziness.

In some cases, it is believed that reactivation of the virus herpes type 1 simplex (responsible for cold sores) or the Epstein-Barr virus (responsible for infectious mononucleosis) could be the cause. But no association was found between vestibular neuronitis and otitis media.

Diagnostic

It is important to consult a doctor in the event of dizziness. They will do a general physical exam as well as an ear exam. Various simple tests help in the diagnosis, such as the Dix and Hallpike maneuver, in which the appearance of vertigo is tested by various movements of the body.

The doctor should rule out other possible causes of dizziness. He must also distinguish them from dizziness. Dizziness could be due, for example, to mild positional vertigo, Ménière’s disease, or “true” labyrinthitis. The possibility of more serious problems, such as a stroke or brain tumor, must also be ruled out. Dizziness can also be triggered by taking high doses of certain medications, such as antibiotics.

An index that makes it possible to distinguish the vestibular neuronitis another ear disorder is that it does not harm hearing and does not cause tinnitus.