Inner
Ear Infection Symptoms Can Be Debilitating
As a child, you may remember getting at least
one bad earache. That painful childhood earache you remember was
probably caused by a middle
ear infection. While middle ear infections are fairly common
in children, other parts of your ear may become infected and inflamed
as well. For example, you may come down with an inner ear infection
at any time during your life. Inner ear infection symptoms are completely
different from other types of ear infections. To
understand inner ear infection symptoms, also called labyrinthitis,
you first should know some basics about your inner ear. Your inner
ear contains a system of tubes and canals called the labyrinth.
The labyrinth sends signals to your brain to help you do two different
things: (1) comprehend sound, and (2) determine the movement and
position of your head. When these tubes become infected and inflamed,
you will experience a specific set of inner ear infection symptoms.
A list of inner ear infection symptoms includes:
- Vertigo, which is a sensation
of whirling or spinning (different from dizziness)
- Nausea and vomiting (similar
to feelings of motion sickness)
- Loss of balance
- Headache
- A ringing or rushing noise
inside the ear called tinnitus
- Temporary hearing loss
Inner
ear infection symptoms may become worse with any kind of head
movement such as sitting up, looking upward, or rolling over in
bed. At first, inner ear infection symptoms last for a few days
or a few weeks. However, it’s possible for inner ear infection
symptoms to return after the initial symptoms go away. Perhaps most
importantly, inner ear infection symptoms may indicate brain tumors,
stroke, or meningitis. Therefore, if you or your child experiences
inner ear infection symptoms that are getting progressively worse
or will not subside, you should find out if the symptoms indicate
a more serious condition.
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