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Vestibular Neuritis

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Disorders of the Vestibular System

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Abstract

Vestibular neuritis is an isolated unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy that causes a rapid-onset spinning vertigo. Vestibular neuritis often develops following a viral illness and is associated with inflammation and demyelination of the vestibular nerve. Patients exhibit spontaneous nystagmus, a positive head impulse test, and imbalance without focal neurological deficits. Vestibular suppressants (meclizine, benzodiazepines) are used to treat acute symptoms of this disorder. Treatment with corticosteroids and vestibular exercises should begin early after onset of symptoms to accelerate the return to normal activities of daily living (ADLs). The symptoms of acute vestibular neuritis typically resolve over the course of days to weeks, but a permanent unilateral vestibular impairment can persist. In the setting of incomplete central compensation, patients can experience residual symptoms over months to years.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    T. Logan Lindemann

  2. Division of Otolaryngology, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Pamela C. Roehm

Authors
  1. T. Logan Lindemann
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  2. Pamela C. Roehm
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    Benjamin T. Crane

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Lawrence Lustig

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Christopher de Souza

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© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

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Lindemann, T.L., Roehm, P.C. (2023). Vestibular Neuritis. In: Crane, B.T., Lustig, L., de Souza, C. (eds) Disorders of the Vestibular System. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40524-2_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40524-2_5

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