In the article, we consider the symptoms and treatment of vestibular neuritis. Repeated dizziness indicates different vestibular disorders. The causes of such problems are not the same, and many of them are still the subject of discussion among specialists. In particular, a disease called "vestibular neuritis" carries a lot of unpleasant symptoms and has various causes, but, as a rule, it goes away without any serious consequences for the patient.
Symptoms, treatment and causes of vestibular neuritis are of interest to many.
Features of the disease
The human vestibular system is located in the temporal bone and is represented by various receptors that respond to the movement of endolymph. When this fluid moves with the movement of the body and head, it moves the otoliths, which, in turn, cause irritation of nerve receptors. These cells transmit nerve impulses to the area of the brain. As a result, the part that is responsible for balance returns signals to the muscles of the body, maintaining their rest and tone normally. Thus, the main task of the vestibular apparatus is to ensure the stability of the body and its balance.
Under the influence of a number of different factors, a coordinated operation of the system may fail. The most common violation of the vestibular apparatus is neuritis, which often has an infectious etiology, manifested by systemic dizziness, nausea, and other symptoms. As a rule, with this disease, the upper branch of the nerve is affected.
Vestibular neuritis occurs in people at any age, regardless of the type of activity or lifestyle. Mostly this disease is recorded between the ages of thirty to sixty years. Women and men suffer from this disease with almost equal frequency.
Below we consider the symptoms and treatment.
Causes of vestibular neuritis
Vestibular neuritis is mainly caused by viral pathologies, since in many patients an episode of otolaryngological diseases is noted immediately before its occurrence. In this regard, this disease is most often recorded in the cold season, especially in the epidemic season. In addition, the presence of a latent infection, for example, the herpes virus, which exists in the vestibular ganglia, is often detected in people.
The causes of vestibular neuritis should be identified by a doctor.
In addition, the occurrence of this disease is noted after:
- The appearance of chickenpox.
- Against the background of the appearance of shingles.
- With herpetic encephalitis.
- Against the background of poisoning with the presence of serious intoxication.
- With injuries to the labyrinth or skull.
Theoretically, a certain role in the occurrence of this pathology is played by a hypoxic and ischemic disorder in the brain, which changes the blood circulation of the vestibular nerve, provoking the appearance of neuritis. Many researchers point to the infectious and allergic nature of this disease, when viruses cause pathological reactions of cells of their own immune system.
Symptomatology
Symptoms and treatment of vestibular neuritis are interrelated.
The main symptom of the disease is attacks of systemic dizziness, supplemented by vomiting, imbalance and nausea. These clinical manifestations are much more pronounced during head movement and when changing position. Other symptoms of neuritis are the following manifestations:
- Reducing dizziness while fixing the gaze on a particular subject.
- The occurrence of spontaneous nystagmus, when involuntary eye movement is noted.
- Feeling of constant rotation of objects.
- The presence of fear of death along with the panic of the patient.
- The complete absence of any hearing impairment.
That is, with these symptoms, treatment can already be started.
Signs of vestibular neuritis and their duration can vary from a couple of hours to a week. And nystagmus can partially persist up to three weeks. Even after the cessation of nausea and dizziness, a person can feel extremely unstable for several days, and in some patients, uncertainty in the gait can persist for a very long time, up to three years.
But it is worth noting that due to the high compensatory abilities of the vestibular apparatus, patients do not experience sensations that would violate their quality of life too much. Very rarely, this disease can recur, and against the background of the second episode, the vestibular nerve, which was initially healthy, is affected.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis is based on the characteristic signs of vestibular neuritis, in which prolonged dizziness dominates, supplemented by nystagmus and nausea, which indicates the existing labyrinth dysfunctions. It is mandatory to carry out special tests along with physical tests. For example, a caloric sample is taken and the vestibular potential is evaluated. Indirectly, the diagnosis is confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging of the brain with contrast.
Differential diagnosis
It is necessary to differentiate this disease from the labyrinth and traumatic brain injuries, in which hearing impairment is always present (for example, in the presence of vestibular neuritis there are none). One must also be able to distinguish this pathology from stroke and Meniere's disease.
How is the treatment of symptoms of vestibular neuritis?
Treatment methods
To assess the human condition and to exclude other, more serious pathologies, you should definitely consult a doctor for therapy. With this disease, an otolaryngologist and a neurologist will help. In severe cases of dizziness, you need to go to the hospital for treatment. Initially, drugs are used in treatment to reduce vestibular symptoms, and as they improve, people are prescribed special vestibular exercises.
Medications
The courses of application of systemic glucocorticosteroids in the form of Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone and Methylprednisolone help to relieve painful symptoms. We will name other drugs that the doctor can recommend to get rid of the symptoms of vestibular neuritis.
- The use of vestibular suppressants and medicines for nausea in the form of "Dimenhydrinate" and "Metoclopramide." Many drugs are prescribed intravenously for up to five days.
- The use of antiviral drugs in the form of “Acyclovir”, “Cycloferon”, “Interferon”.
- Preparations aimed at improving the microcirculation of the labyrinth, for example, Betaserk along with Betagistin and Vestibo.
- The use of antihypoxants - drugs to maintain the nervous system. For example, in this case, “Trimectal” is used along with “Vinpocetine”, “Deprenorm”, “Triducard” and “Trimetazidine”.
To accelerate the restoration of the healthy activity of the maze after stopping the acute clinical manifestations, vestibular gymnastics should be performed . In this case, movements are performed with the eyes and the head, and, in addition, exercises for the body. At first, a person may experience discomfort during gymnastics, but nevertheless it should be continued. All exercises are performed first in a supine position, then sitting, and then standing and walking.
It is very effective in treating the symptoms of vestibular neuritis with folk remedies.
ethnoscience
Folk techniques in the presence of this disease offer the additional use of essential oils that must be inhaled. For this, natural oils of rosemary, lavender and camphor are suitable, which well calm the nervous system.
In addition, traditional healers recommend the use of seaweed powder, which must be taken daily before dinner with a teaspoon. In the diet of a sick person for his speedy recovery must be present products that contain a lot of phosphorus - these are nuts along with cheese, fish and cucumbers.
Preventive measures for this pathology
Given that this disease rarely occurs and there is no accurately proven data on the causes of its development, there is no specific prophylaxis for the prevention of vestibular neuritis as such. Nevertheless, reducing the number of viral infections can significantly reduce the risks of the described pathology.
The article examined the symptoms and treatment of vestibular neuritis.