Inner ear infection - causes, signs, remedies, and other insights
Severe inner ear infections can cause permanent damage to parts of the inner ear, leading to varying degrees of hearing loss and balance problems. Two common inner ear infections that affect balance and hearing are Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis.
Causes
Both conditions are mostly caused by viral infections, often following upper respiratory infections such as colds or flu. Vestibular neuritis specifically involves inflammation of the vestibular nerve, which controls balance, while labyrinthitis involves inflammation of the entire inner ear labyrinth, affecting both balance and hearing [1][2][3][4].
Symptoms
Vestibular Neuritis
Sudden onset of severe vertigo (a spinning sensation), dizziness, balance problems, nausea, and vomiting but no hearing loss because the cochlear part of the inner ear isn't affected [1][2][3][4].
Labyrinthitis
Similar vertigo and balance issues but with accompanying hearing loss and sometimes tinnitus (ringing in the ears), because the inflammation affects the hearing organ as well as balance structures [1][2].
Both conditions can cause incapacitating dizziness lasting days or weeks [3].
Treatment Options
Medications
Corticosteroids to reduce inner ear inflammation; anti-nausea and vestibular suppressants (like meclizine) in the acute phase to control symptoms [2][4].
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy
Gradual balance and head movement exercises to promote compensation by the brain once acute symptoms lessen (not recommended in the first few days when symptoms are severe) [2][3].
Supportive Care
Rest, hydration, and avoiding sudden head movements during recovery [3].
Antibiotics
Only if a bacterial infection is suspected, which is rare [4].
The prognosis is generally good; vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis often improve over weeks to months, though some patients might experience longer-term balance difficulties [3][4].
Summary Table
| Aspect | Vestibular Neuritis | Labyrinthitis | |------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------| | Cause | Viral inflammation of vestibular nerve | Viral inflammation of inner ear labyrinth | | Hearing loss | No | Yes | | Main symptoms | Vertigo, dizziness, imbalance | Vertigo, dizziness, imbalance, hearing loss, tinnitus | | Treatment | Steroids, anti-nausea meds, vestibular rehab | Same as vestibular neuritis plus hearing symptom management | | Prognosis | Good with gradual recovery | Generally good, may take longer if hearing affected |
This overview is based on recent clinical descriptions and patient experiences from sources dated July 2025 [1][2][3][4][5].
Other possible complications of severe inner ear infections are BPPV, a type of vertigo that results from sudden head movements. Anyone can develop an inner ear infection, but having a viral infection, such as herpes or measles, can increase a person's risk.
In some rare instances, a doctor may use antiviral medications or antibiotics to treat the virus or bacteria that caused the inner ear infection. However, they will often only treat the symptoms of inner ear infections, not the infection itself.
Inner ear infections can cause the structures of the inner ear to become inflamed, leading to symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, a sensation of imbalance, and hearing impairments. A doctor may recommend antiemetics, such as prochlorperazine, to help with nausea, and vestibular suppressants such as Meclizine.
A doctor may carry out tests such as hearing tests, blood tests, CT scans, MRI scans, electroencephalograms, electronystagmography to rule out other conditions that share symptoms with inner ear infections. Adults may use over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) to treat any pain resulting from an inner ear infection.
Other home remedies that a person can try to help reduce their nausea include peppermint, cinnamon, protein, and an electrolyte replacement sports drink.
Labyrinthitis is an infection of the inner ear that causes inflammation of the labyrinth, a maze of fluid-filled channels in the inner ear. Vestibular neuritis can cause symptoms such as vertigo and nausea and is often associated with a viral infection or the reactivation of a herpes simplex virus.
Timing is important for cochlear implantation, as labyrinthitis ossificans can begin soon after meningitis and worsen over time. There are two main types of inner ear infections: labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis.
Ginger tea might be an effective treatment for vertigo according to some studies. Vestibular neuritis is an infection of the nerve that sits in the inner ear and plays a role in detecting balance by sending signals from the inner ear to the brain.
Labyrinthitis can disrupt the transmission of sensory information from the inner ear to the brain and is most commonly caused by viral infections. The inner ear plays an important role in helping a person balance.
Recent research suggests that cochlear implantation surgery can be a successful treatment option for those who have experienced cochlear ossification. A cochlear implant is a small electrical device that helps deaf people better understand speech, but it does not cure deafness. Steroids may be prescribed by a doctor to treat inflammation caused by inner ear infections.
Inner ear infections in children are much less common than middle ear infections and can be a complication of bacterial meningitis. The inner ear is the deepest part of the human ear, located at the end of the ear tubes, and it turns sound waves into nerve impulses.
Some over-the-counter antihistamines that can help treat vertigo and ease nausea and dizziness include fexofenadine (Allegra), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and loratadine (Claritin). Cochlear ossification, where bone begins to replace the lymph fluids filling the cochlea of the inner ear, can be an issue in children after meningitis.
- Inner ear infections can be triggered by viral infections following upper respiratory infections such as colds or flu.
- Another name for inflammation of the vestibular nerve is Vestibular Neuritis, which causes balance problems and dizziness but no hearing loss.
- Labyrinthitis, on the other hand, involves inflammation of the entire inner ear labyrinth, leading to both balance issues and hearing loss.
- Sudden onset of severe vertigo, dizziness, imbalance, nausea, and vomiting are common symptoms of Vestibular Neuritis.
- Labyrinthitis symptoms include vertigo, dizziness, imbalance, hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and sometimes balance difficulties lasting days or weeks.
- Treating Vestibular Neuritis involves using corticosteroids, anti-nausea meds, vestibular rehab, rest, hydration, and avoiding sudden head movements.
- Labyrinthitis treatment options are similar to those for Vestibular Neuritis, with the addition of managing hearing symptoms.
- Antibiotics are only given if a bacterial infection is suspected, which is rare.
- Both conditions can improve over weeks to months, but some patients might experience longer-term balance difficulties.
- The inner ear can also develop complications such as BPPV (a type of vertigo due to sudden head movements).
- Having a viral infection, like herpes or measles, can increase a person's risk of developing inner ear infections.
- Other conditions with similar symptoms to inner ear infections may require tests like hearing tests, blood tests, CT scans, MRI scans, electronystagmography, and electroencephalograms.
- Peppermint, cinnamon, protein, and an electrolyte replacement sports drink can help reduce nausea in some cases.
- Ginger tea might be effective in treating vertigo according to some studies.
- Labyrinthitis disrupts the transmission of sensory information from the inner ear to the brain, often caused by viral infections.
- The inner ear plays a crucial role in balance and hearing, and it turns sound waves into nerve impulses.
- Recent research suggests that cochlear implantation surgery can be a successful treatment option for those who have experienced cochlear ossification, a complication of inner ear infections.
- Over-the-counter antihistamines like fexofenadine (Allegra), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and loratadine (Claritin) can help treat vertigo and ease nausea and dizziness.
