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Vestibular neuritis

Vestibular neuritis is an inner ear disorder causing a person to experience sudden, severe vertigo, dizziness, balance problems, nausea, and vomiting. 

Symptoms of Vestibular neuritis

Vestibular neuritis concerns swelling of a branch of the vestibulocochlear nerve found in the vestibular portion that affects balance.

Signs include:

  • Sudden, severe vertigo (spinning/swaying sensation)
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Concentration difficulties
  • Balance difficulties

Reasons

The most likely cause of this condition is a viral infection on the inner ear, a viral infection found in the body, or swelling around the vestibulocochlear nerve (caused by a virus)

Examples of other areas of the body affected include:

Diagnosis

Vestibular neuritis

The doctor may advise you to undergo a specific testing process to evaluate hearing and vestibular damage.

These tests help determine if symptoms:

  • Hearing tests
  • Vestibular (balance) tests
  • A head impulse test

The presence of uncontrolled rapid eye movement is an alarm of vestibular neuritis. If symptoms prolong beyond a week or worsen, you get other tests.

Some of the possible health conditions include:

You may summon an MRI to figure out the brain’s disorders. 

Treatments

Treatment consists of managing the symptoms and treating a virus.

Managing symptoms. When vestibular neuritis develops, treatment focuses on reducing symptoms.

  • Drugs to reduce nausea include ondansetron and metoclopramide
  • Drugs such as meclizine, diazepam (Valium), Compazine, and lorazepam reduce dizziness. It would aid if you did not use vestibular suppressants any longer than three days
  • Steroids

Treating a virus. Antiviral medicine such as acyclovir is employed if a herpes virus is to cause vestibular neuritis. (No antibiotics to treat vestibular neuritis because bacteria do not cause this disorder).

If you have further questions or need personalized guidance, don’t hesitate to take advantage of our online doctor consultation free, ensuring you receive the best care possible.

Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 04 October 2022