Vestibular neuronitis

Vestibular neuronitis is an infectious disease that is characterized by an inflammatory lesion of the anterior-cochlear nerve, which is responsible for the transmission of auditory and other impulses emanating from the vestibular part of the inner ear. The disease does not disturb the auditory function and there are no seizures. The most common causes of vestibular neuronitis are ENT diseases and infectious diseases such as:


How does the vestibular neuronitis manifest?

Primary symptoms of vestibular neuronitis are not clear enough, manifest as sudden attacks of dizziness, which can also be accompanied by tingling, vomiting and imbalance. It is not uncommon for spontaneous, jerky and involuntary movements of eyeballs to occur in the first stages of the development of the vestibular neurite. This sign can be considered the most obvious, in addition, it lasts from seven to ten days and can be strengthened along with other symptoms while moving the head.

If within two to three months, the patient observes that with sharp turns of the head or when walking is disturbed, then there is almost no doubt that he has a vestibular neuronite.

Types of vestibular neuronitis

There are two forms of the disease:

  1. Acute vestibular neuronitis. This type of disease is not so dangerous, because it disappears without a trace within six months.
  2. Chronic vestibular neuronitis. It is characterized by instability and rare attacks of dizziness, which may resemble Meniere's disease , so this form of the disease is much more dangerous.

Symptoms of the two types of the disease are very similar, and therefore only the doctor can make the correct diagnosis, because of what to allow self-medication is absolutely impossible.

How to treat vestibular neuronitis?

The first stage of treatment of vestibular neuronitis is to reduce the manifestation of primary symptoms - vomiting, nausea, dizziness. Further, medications are prescribed that restore vestibular functions and accelerate organ compensation. The patient is also assigned vestibular gymnastics, which restores the functions of the organs.

The disease is characterized by favorable predictions, in 40% of cases the vestibular neuronitis has no negative consequences and is cured completely. The worst outcome is observed in 20-25% of patients, as one-sided vestibular areflexia is preserved.