What is vestibular neuritis?

Vestibular neuritis is a condition that causes a problem with the vestibulocochlear nerve of your inner ear. This nerve carries information concerning your balance and head position from your inner ear to your brain. When this nerve is inflamed or swollen, it disrupts how your brain interprets information. This causes dizziness, vertigo and other balance symptoms.

What are the symptoms of vestibular neuritis?

The symptoms of vestibular neuritis often develop rapidly and are at their worst when they first appear.

They may consist of:

sudden dizziness
difficulty balancing
nausea and vomiting
dizziness
finding it hard to concentrate

What causes vestibular neuritis?

The most common cause of vestibular neuritis is viral infection in the inner ear or any part of the body. Viruses that cause vestibular neuritis include measles, flu, mononucleosis, rubella, mumps, shingles, and chicken pox.

At times, bacterial infection may result in vestibular neuritis. However, the likelihood of labyrinthitis being caused by bacteria is higher.

How is vestibular neuritis diagnosed?

Your doctor will attempt to eliminate serious reasons for your dizziness, including a stroke or neurological disorder before they can diagnose you. They may do so by performing an MRI scan or having you move your head in some ways.

Then, they'll probably check your hearing to try to determine which nerves are involved.

How is vestibular neuritis treated?

If vestibular neuritis is due to an underlying infection, you'll probably be given antibiotics or antiviral medication to clear up the infection. There isn't a specific treatment for vestibular neuritis itself, but a few things may help ease your symptoms while you get better.

Some medications may relieve dizziness and nausea. These are:

diphenhydramine (Bendadryl)
meclizine (Antivert)
lorazepam (Ativan)
diazepam (Valium)

If you can't keep anything down and become seriously dehydrated, your physician may also recommend IV fluids. You can also attempt these 10 home remedies for vertigo.

If your symptoms are not improving after a week or two, you might need vestibular rehabilitation therapy. This includes performing gentle exercises, like Brandt-Daroff exercises, to allow your brain to adapt to changes in your balance. You may feel that your symptoms worsen when you first begin exercising, and this is to be expected.

What are the risk factors for vestibular neuritis?

For most individuals, vestibular neuritis symptoms get better within a week or two. However, approximately half of all individuals with the disorder develop chronic, long-term symptoms such as unsteadiness, dizziness or spatial disorientation (the inability to know your body position in relation to the world around you). In severe cases, individuals experience permanent hearing loss or inner ear damage.

Can I prevent vestibular neuritis?

Since viruses lead to vestibular neuritis, you can't always avoid the condition. But you can lower your risk by ensuring that you're current on all your vaccines.

How long does vestibular neuritis last?

It varies depending on your individual case. It can take varying lengths of time to recover depending on the severity of your case and where the damage occurred along your vestibular nerve.

Some individuals recover only a week, while others experience residual symptoms that last weeks, months, or even years.

What is the prognosis for individuals with vestibular neuritis?

Individuals with vestibular neuritis typically recover fully in a matter of weeks. However, for some individuals, symptoms can persist. If your symptoms are not resolving, discuss further treatment with your doctor.

When should I visit my doctor?

Call your doctor whenever you experience vestibular neuritis symptoms such as bad vertigo, dizziness, or loss of balance. If you've already had vestibular neuritis treatment and your symptoms don't seem to be getting any better, have your doctor inform him.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

If you have vestibular neuritis, these are some questions you can ask your doctor:

What is your opinion regarding the cause of my condition?
How severely damaged is my vestibular nerve?
What are some things I can do to make my symptoms more comfortable?
Should I take anything for medicine?
Would I benefit from physical therapy?
How long do you think it'll be until I get better?

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for vestibular neuritis treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers Vestibular Neuritis Treatment in Lucknow, India. We have experienced team of ENT specialists and neurologists who provide accurate diagnosis, effective medication protocols, and customised vestibular rehabilitation therapy for patients with balance disorders and vertigo caused by vestibular neuritis.