VRT is usually carried out under the supervision of a physiotherapist and involves a range of exercises designed to:. The Brain and Spine Foundation is a UK charity that has more information about vestibular rehabilitation on its website. You can ask your GP to refer you to a physiotherapist or you can pay for private treatment. If you decide to see a private physiotherapist, make sure they are fully qualified and a member of a recognised body, such as the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy CSP.
Not all physiotherapists have training in VRT, so you need to make it clear you require this type of treatment before making an appointment. Permanent hearing loss can be a common complication of labyrinthitis, particularly in children who have developed bacterial labyrinthitis as a complication of the brain infection meningitis.
It's estimated that as many as one in five children will develop hearing loss after having meningitis. The hearing loss can either be partial or complete. Because of the high risk of hearing loss occurring after bacterial labyrinthitis, it is recommended that a person is given a hearing test once they have recovered from the infection. Permanent, severe hearing loss following bacterial labyrinthitis can sometimes be treated with a cochlear implant.
Home Illnesses and conditions Ears, nose and throat Labyrinthitis. Labyrinthitis See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About labyrinthitis 2. Causes of labyrinthitis 3. Diagnosing labyrinthitis 4. Treating labyrinthitis 5. Complications of labyrinthitis. About labyrinthitis Labyrinthitis is an inner ear infection.
Other symptoms include: a feeling of pressure inside your ear s ringing or humming in your ear s tinnitus fluid or pus leaking out of your ear s ear pain feeling sick nausea or being sick a high temperature fever of 38C Treating labyrinthitis In most cases, the symptoms pass within a few weeks.
Read more about treating labyrinthitis The labyrinth The labyrinth is the innermost part of the ear. It contains two important parts: the cochlea — this relays sounds to the brain and is responsible for hearing the vestibular system — a complex set of fluid-filled channels that contributes to your sense of balance Inflammation of the labyrinth can disrupt your hearing and sense of balance, triggering the symptoms of labyrinthitis.
The labyrinth usually becomes inflamed either because of: a viral infection, such as a cold or flu a bacterial infection, which is much less common Read more about the causes of labyrinthitis Who gets labyrinthitis? Complications of labyrinthitis Bacterial labyrinthitis carries a higher risk of causing permanent hearing loss, particularly in children who have developed it as a complication of meningitis.
Because of this high risk, a hearing test is recommended following bacterial labyrinthitis. Read more information about hearing loss Vestibular neuronitis Many people diagnosed with labyrinthitis only experience the balance symptoms without hearing loss.
This is actually known as vestibular neuronitis rather than labyrinthitis. However, both terms are often used to describe the same diagnosis.
Causes of labyrinthitis Labyrinthitis is caused by inflammation of part of the inner ear known as the labyrinth. How the labyrinth works The fluid-filled channels of the labyrinth are known as the vestibular system and they are connected at different angles. Viral labyrinthitis Around half of all cases of viral labyrinthitis are thought to be caused when a viral infection of the chest, nose, mouth and airways — such as the common cold or flu — spreads to the inner ear.
Bacterial labyrinthitis Labyrinthitis can sometimes be caused by a bacterial infection. Immune system problems Labyrinthitis often develops in people who have an underlying autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue rather than fighting off infections. Diagnosing labyrinthitis Many conditions can cause dizziness and vertigo. Your GP may carry out the following tests: a physical examination — you may be asked to move your head or body and your ears will be checked for signs of inflammation and infection hearing tests — labyrinthitis is more likely if you have hearing loss Your GP will also check your eyes.
Viral or bacterial labyrinthitis? Doctors can usually safely assume that labyrinthitis is the result of a viral infection more common unless there is strong evidence to suggest otherwise, such as: the labyrinthitis is in a very young child labyrinthitis occurs in someone who is already known to have a bacterial infection you have common bacterial labyrinthitis symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and complete hearing loss Further testing Further testing is usually only required if you have additional symptoms that suggest you may have a more serious condition, such as meningitis or a stroke.
Severe symptoms usually last for less then one to two days. If such symptoms last longer than one to two days, then it is important to consult with a doctor. If symptoms do not go away and are left untreated, they can lead to complications and in rare cases more serious health issues. After an ear infection clears up, fluid may remain in the middle ear and cause some of the more mild symptoms and can persist for several weeks to months.
This condition is diagnosed as otitis media with effusion. Symptoms in children usually resolve within 24 hours. Treatment begins with a wait-and-see approach as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians. A prescription from a doctor is needed for antibiotics so if you think your infection is bacterial contact a doctor here. The outer ear is comprised of the pinna the fleshy part of the ear outside the head and the ear canal a 2 to 3 cm tube that propels sound towards the eardrum.
The eardrum is a membrane between the middle and outer sections of the ear that causes the ossicles to vibrate when sound is brought in through the ear canal. Infections in this sector of the ear, known as acute otitis externa, mostly affect the ear canal.
Causes of outer ear infections are considerably different than the causes of middle ear infections. Bacterial infections are the most common type of infection in the outer ear, although fungal and viral infections more rare occur as well.
Although swimming is a common cause of infection, excess water in the ear canal after showering, sweating, or from excessively humid weather can also lead to an outer ear infection. Irritations to the ear canal can result from using or misusing a number of common products.
These include:. With proper treatments an outer ear infection should clear up in 7 to 10 days. If ear drops are used they are usually applied for a slightly longer period of time, 10 to 14 days. If an outer ear infection is left untreated, then not only can it can last much longer, but it can lead to dangerous complications where the infection spreads to the base of your skull, brain, or cranial nerves.
Your ear should be better anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on severity. Inner ear infections sometimes take up to 6 weeks to heal, but it all depends on how bad it is and the treatment you get.
Now that you know the symptoms of inner ear infections in adults, you can make the best decisions for your health. Contact us or come in today if you have any health problems, including an inner ear infection. What Is an Inner Ear Infection? Inner Ear Infection Symptoms of an inner ear infection include: Dizziness Earache Ear pain Issues with balance Trouble hearing Ringing in the ear Spinning sensation If the infection progresses, more severe symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or hearing loss may occur.
These symptoms are slightly different than middle and outer ear infections. Labyrinthitis usually gets better on its own. But there are things you can do to ease the symptoms:.
Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis are problems with different parts of the inner ear, which are needed for balance:.
However, if your hearing is affected, then labyrinthitis is the cause. This is because inflammation of the labyrinth affects hearing, while inflammation of the vestibular nerve does not.
If you have labyrinthitis, a GP may prescribe antihistamines or motion-sickness tablets for up to 3 days. Do not take them for any longer, as they can slow down your recovery. Labyrinthitis is usually caused by a viral infection, such as a cold or flu, so antibiotics will not help.
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