Inflammation of the vestibulocochlear nerve is a disease in which there is a dysfunction of two sensory organs - hearing and balance, which allows you to sense the position of the body in space. As a consequence, the patient struggles with hearing loss and, in addition, has difficulty staying on his feet. What are the causes and symptoms of atriocochlear nerve inflammation? How is the treatment going?
Inflammation of the vestibulo-cochlear nerve(static-auditory) is an inflammation of the VIIIth cranial nerve that innervates the two sensory organs that are located in the inner ear, i.e. the cochlea ( responsible for the sense of hearing) and the labyrinth (responsible for the sense of balance). In addition, this nerve is responsible for the correct positioning of the head and the position of the eyeballs.
The disease most often affects people between the ages of 30 and 55.
Cochlear neuritis - causes
It is believed that the following viruses are responsible for the inflammation and further damage to the vestibulocochlear nerve: mumps, measles, influenza, herpes zoster and chicken pox. The activation of the HSV-1 latent virus may also be the cause of the disease. Bacteria such as meningococci, pneumococci, and Haemophilus influenzae can also contribute to cranial nerve VIII inflammation.
Other possible causes include vascular disorders and an autoimmune reaction (autoimmune reaction).
Cochlear neuritis - symptoms
- sudden, very strong dizziness, described as a spinning sensation;
- imbalance, difficulty staying on your feet;
- nausea and vomiting;
- transient nystagmus (rhythmic eye movements occurring when the eyeballs are in their extreme swing), which is horizontal, unidirectional;
- hearing impairment - hearing loss or even complete deafness;
- feeling anxious, fearful;
Symptoms usually disappear after 2 weeks.
Cochlear neuritis - diagnosis
In addition to the interview with the patient, a caloric test is performed, which consists in pouring warm and then cold water into the ears, while observing and assessing eye movements.
Similar symptoms appear in the course of many other diseases, such asincluding: Ménière's disease, mild paroxysmal positional vertigo, a tumor of the vestibulocochlear nerve, labyrinthine stroke, neurological diseases (e.g. multiple sclerosis), therefore the doctor should rule them out.
Cochlear neuritis - treatment
Treatment is primarily symptomatic. In severe dizziness, drugs that reduce its intensity (thiethylperazine or betahistine) can be administered. In the event of persistent vomiting, antiemetics (e.g. metoclopramide) may be given. Vestibular neuritis can also be treated with glucocorticosteroids.
Cochlear neuritis - prognosis
The prognosis is good if you have unilateral cochlear neuritis. However, if the inflammation is bilateral, it may lead to imbalances, which means that you may be unsteady about your walks.