Labyrinthitis is an infection or inflammation of the labyrinth, the inner-ear structure responsible for hearing and balance. Dizziness is one of the symptoms of labyrinthitis, but it also appears in several other conditions. Despite being widely used as a popular term, labyrinthitis is actually one of the rarest diagnoses seen in clinics.
I am always trying to clarify what labyrinthitis really is here on the blog, on social media, in interviews, and especially during appointments.
This condition is still poorly understood by the general public, and the lack of information can lead people to jump to conclusions and even encourage self-medication, which is strongly discouraged.
The first thing we need to understand is that labyrinthitis is not a synonym for dizziness. In fact, it is one of the rarest diagnoses among patients with this type of symptom.
In this article, I want you to understand not only the causes of labyrinthitis, but also the characteristics of this condition so you can eliminate any doubts about its diagnosis and know what to do in case of suspicion. Shall we?
- What exactly is labyrinthitis?
- How to differentiate labyrinthitis from other conditions?
- What are the main causes of labyrinthitis?
- What to do when dizziness and other symptoms related to labyrinthitis appear?
What exactly is labyrinthitis?
You’ve probably heard a friend or relative — or maybe even yourself — complain about “labyrinthitis” after experiencing unusual dizziness. People also tend to be curious about foods or habits that supposedly “trigger” labyrinthitis or whether it is dangerous and requires medical attention.
Let me be very clear: dizziness is a symptom — labyrinthitis is a disease.
Indeed, dizziness is one of the main symptoms of labyrinthitis, but it is also extremely common in several other health conditions, such as BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo — also known as “crystal dizziness”) and Vestibular Migraine.
Another important point is that the labyrinth, the affected region, is also directly associated with hearing. Therefore—hearing symptoms such as ear fullness, hearing loss, and tinnitus—are also expected in a case of labyrinthitis.
Finally, I must clarify that labyrinthitis is usually a self-limiting infection (most patients recover within a few weeks). It may leave some sequelae, but not a chronic condition. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, it is a very rare diagnosis in ENT practice.
How to differentiate labyrinthitis from other conditions?
Now that we’ve clarified the difference between dizziness and labyrinthitis, we can move forward. The first key point is: if you do not present any hearing symptoms, it is highly unlikely that you have labyrinthitis. Also, labyrinthitis does not cause dizziness in crises. That means that if your dizziness occurs in recurrent episodes with symptom-free intervals, this is certainly not labyrinthitis.
In reality, labyrinthitis typically presents with several additional symptoms, beyond hearing changes, such as:
- Vertigo: dizziness marked by the sensation that everything is spinning
- Nystagmus: involuntary eye movements that may indicate asymmetry between the labyrinths
- Fever and sweating: common symptoms of infections
- Vomiting: resulting from intense vertigo and its gastrointestinal impact
Vertigo is a typical symptom in disorders that affect the labyrinth and is an important clue for diagnosis. It’s also essential to understand that isolated complementary tests cannot diagnose labyrinthitis. We always need to assess both the patient’s clinical history and the physical exam performed in the office.
What are the main causes of labyrinthitis?
In most cases, labyrinthitis results from the progression of a common infection, such as the flu, a cold, or a bacterial infection. In adults, labyrinthitis tends to occur mainly after a viral infection of the upper airways, such as the flu or common cold. We have also seen cases of labyrinthitis following COVID-19.
It’s important to stress that, in most cases, the body can naturally handle these infections—sometimes with the help of antibiotics. Progressing to labyrinthitis is atypical.
In children, Acute Otitis Media deserves attention. This is one of the most common diagnoses in childhood and involves fluid buildup in the middle ear followed by infection. This is a common starting point for labyrinthitis.
Labyrinthitis can also be diagnosed in patients who had meningitis, usually during childhood. In these cases, patients tend to develop profound hearing loss.
What to do when dizziness and other symptoms related to labyrinthitis appear?
Now that you understand the condition better, it becomes easier to understand why doctors are skeptical when a patient arrives saying they “have labyrinthitis,” right?
Dizziness is a symptom associated with many disorders, although none of them are as popularly known as labyrinthitis. Both the physical exam and the patient’s history must be evaluated, and only a doctor can confirm the diagnosis.
When a patient walks into my office and tells me they have labyrinthitis, I can’t know exactly what they mean. So, be as detailed as possible when describing your symptoms!
It is very important to describe the sensations you experience during dizziness episodes, as well as how they started and whether they last minutes, hours, or days. Another key point is noting whether the dizziness is associated with other symptoms such as nausea, hearing loss, headaches, among others.
Since we are dealing with a condition involving changes in the ear, the specialist to consult is an ENT doctor—preferably an otoneurologist, who specializes in dizziness and tinnitus.
Searching online for causes of labyrinthitis — or any symptom affecting you or a loved one — is completely natural. However, this information is purely educational and not enough to confirm any condition, much less recommend medication without proper medical supervision.
It is essential to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and, from there, determine the best treatment strategy for your specific case.