Labyrinthitis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Recovery

Written by Martha Anne Tudor
Medically Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, MS, DO on April 28, 2025
5 min read

It’s an inflammation of part of your inner ear. It’s usually caused by viral infections and sometimes by bacterial infections. Having a cold or flu can trigger it, and you’re more likely to get it if you smoke. Labyrinthitis usually isn’t dangerous. But it can cause severe symptoms, such as lasting vertigo. Rarely, it can cause long-term balance issues and permanent hearing loss. 

 

Your inner ear is important for both hearing and balance. It contains a system of loopy tubes and sacs called the labyrinth. When you have labyrinthitis, the parts of your inner ear become irritated and swollen. That disrupts information that flows from this area to your brain . This can make you lose your balance and cause hearing loss.

Labyrinthitis can not only affect your hearing but also make you feel dizzy. You might experience something more severe, such as vertigo. This is the sudden feeling that you or the inside of your head is spinning.

Other symptoms might include:

Symptoms often appear without warning. For instance, you might notice them when you wake up one morning. This can be scary. If you feel lightheaded or have trouble with your balance or vision, call your doctor or go to the ER right away.

There are two main types, viral and bacterial labyrinthitis. Their symptoms can be similar. Your doctor will need to confirm which type you have before they can treat it.

Viral labyrinthitis

This type is more common than bacterial. But doctors know less about it. Some viruses seem to be linked. These include measles, mumps, hepatitis, and the types of herpes that cause cold sores, chicken pox, or shingles.

If you have viral labyrinthitis, it usually will affect only one ear. It might quickly run its course and seem to go away. But it can return without warning.

Bacterial labyrinthitis

This can happen in two ways. First, bacteria from a middle ear infection make toxins that get into your inner ear and cause inflammation and swelling. Or, an infection in the bones surrounding your inner ear makes toxins that cause the same symptoms.

A chronic, or ongoing, middle ear infection can cause it.

A more severe and uncommon type of bacterial labyrinthitis occurs when germs invade the labyrinth from outside your ear. A condition such as bacterial meningitis can cause this.

Your doctor will examine you, ask about your symptoms, and look at your medical history. They may order tests to assess your hearing, balance, and other nervous system functions. There aren’t any specific tests that let them know you have labyrinthitis. They’ll rule out other conditions, such as vestibular neuritis, that can look a lot like labyrinthitis. They may want to test for health issues such as:

Labyrinthitis usually goes away within a few weeks. If you need treatment, it’ll depend on how severe your condition is. Your doctor may recommend medications, home remedies, physical therapy, or a combination of those. In very rare cases, you may need surgery.

Medications

Common medications your doctor may recommended include those to help ease your dizziness and nausea. If you have a bacterial infection, antibiotics will be prescribed. Depending on the cause of your labyrinthitis, your doctor may also give you corticosteroids to calm any inflammation.

Hospitalization and surgery

If you have severe vomiting, you may be admitted to the hospital. It’s very rare, but you might also need a labyrinthectomy. It’s a type of surgery your doctor may suggest if you have major hearing loss and dizziness that won’t get better. A surgeon removes your vestibular end organs (the thin, membrane-like parts of your inner ear). It’s a last resort treatment.

Home remedies

Home remedies for labyrinthitis don’t take the place of seeing your doctor, but they may also help. You can try the following: 

  • Stay still and rest.
  • Avoid sudden movements.
  • Ask for help walking if you need it.
  • Avoid bright lights, TV, and reading.
  • Apply a warm compress over your ear.
  • Gargle with warm salt water to help clear your eustachian tube (a small passage that connects your throat and middle ear).
  • Avoid alcohol.

To stay safe, avoid these activities for one week after your labyrinthitis symptoms are gone:

  • Driving
  • Operating heavy machinery
  • Climbing

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy 

If your dizziness and imbalance don’t get better after several weeks, you may need this type of physical therapy to help manage those symptoms. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy includes special exercises designed specifically for labyrinthitis. Ask your doctor if it can help you. 

It might take up to six weeks, but most people recover completely from labyrinthitis. It’s possible to have another episode of vertigo later on. This can happen if you quickly turn over in bed or even tilt your head a certain way. Physical therapy can usually help you get better.

Can labyrinthitis be cured?

Yes, it usually goes away completely with no lasting effects. In very rare cases, hearing loss is permanent. But recovery usually goes like this:

  • Severe symptoms usually go away within a week.
  • Most people are completely better within two to three months.
  • Older adults are more likely to have dizziness that lasts longer.

If you still have symptoms, talk to your doctor to find out when it’s safe for you to go back to work, school, or your other regular activities.

 

Are labyrinthitis and vertigo the same?

No. But vertigo can be a symptom of labyrinthitis.

How long does labyrinthitis last?

Most people get totally better in two to three months.

Can anxiety cause labyrinthitis?

There’s no evidence that anxiety causes labyrinthitis.

Can labyrinthitis be prevented?

There’s no known way to directly prevent labyrinthitis. But because it can be a symptom of other conditions such as cold or flu, washing your hands often and taking other precautions during cold and flu season may help you avoid labyrinthitis indirectly.