What symptoms does inner ear inflammation cause?

Otitis interna is an inflammation of the ear, usually caused by bacteria passing through the ear canal. The main symptoms of otitis interna are tinnitus and deafness. It can also easily lead to severe dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and even hearing loss, resulting in unbearable pain in the ear. Depending on the severity of the condition, corresponding treatment can be given, and anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken to relieve the symptoms.

Clinical manifestations of otitis interna

Symptoms include severe vertigo, frequent vomiting, aggravated by the slightest movement of the head and body, complete hearing loss, and possible deep ear pain. Spontaneous nystagmus initially moves to the affected side, but can move to the healthy side after the labyrinth is destroyed. Vestibular function test: the affected side may have no response to the hot and cold test. Generally, the function can be compensated by the contralateral side after 3 weeks, and the symptoms except deafness gradually disappear.

treat

Adequate antibiotics should be used to control the infection, and sedatives such as diazepam should be used appropriately. If vomiting is frequent, appropriate infusion can be given. When performing radical mastoidectomy under antibiotic control and clearing the lesion, the fibrous connective tissue in the fistula should not be disturbed to avoid the spread of infection. The fistula opening can be covered with the temporalis fascia. When suppurative labyrinthitis is suspected to have intracranial complications, labyrintheotomy should be performed immediately to facilitate smooth drainage and prevent the infection from spreading into the brain.

Etiology, Pathology, and Pathogenesis

(a) Localized labyrinthitis, also known as labyrinthine fistula. It is mostly caused by cholesteatoma or chronic osteitis destroying the labyrinthal bone wall, forming a fistula, which connects the middle ear with the labyrinthal endosteum or perilymphatic cavity.

Symptoms include paroxysmal vertigo, occasionally accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Vertigo often occurs when the head or body position changes, the tragus is compressed, or when operations are performed inside the ear (such as ear picking, ear washing, etc.). During an attack, the affected labyrinth is in an excited state, and the direction of nystagmus is mostly toward the affected side. There is varying degrees of hearing loss, mostly conductive deafness. If the lesion is located at the promontory, it may be mixed deafness. The fistula test induces vertigo and eye deviation, which is a positive fistula test. If the fistula is blocked by pathological tissue, the result may be negative. Vestibular function is generally normal.

(B) Serous labyrinthitis is a diffuse non-suppurative inflammatory disease or inflammatory reaction of the inner ear characterized by serous or serous fibrin exudation. Bacterial toxins or infections of otitis media invade or stimulate the inner ear through labyrinthine fistulas, cochlear windows, vestibular windows or bloodstream pathways, producing diffuse serous inflammation.

Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and imbalance. The patient likes to lie on the affected side and leans toward the healthy side when standing up. In the early stage, the nystagmus is directed toward the affected side, while in the late stage, the nystagmus is directed toward the healthy side. The fistula test may be positive. Vestibular function is reduced to varying degrees. There is a significant decrease in hearing, which is sensorineural deafness. If the lesions are cleared and the inflammation is controlled, the symptoms may disappear.

(III) Suppurative labyrinthitis: Suppurative bacteria invade the inner ear, causing diffuse suppurative lesions in the labyrinth, which is called suppurative labyrinthitis. In this disease, the inner ear end organs are completely destroyed and their functions are completely lost. It is usually caused by the spread of middle ear infection or the development of serous labyrinthitis.