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Vestibular neuronitis - Background information
What is it?
- Vestibular neuronitis (sometimes called 'vestibular neuritis') is a syndrome of acute vertigo of peripheral origin [Baloh, 2003].
- The terms 'vestibular neuronitis' and 'labyrinthitis' have been used interchangeably in the past, but specific terminology is now recommended by experts.
- Vestibular neuronitis is thought to be due to inflammation of the vestibular nerve and often occurs after a viral infection [Hanley et al, 2001; Kuo et al, 2008a; Macleod and McAuley, 2008].
- Labyrinthitis is a different diagnosis that involves inflammation of the labyrinth and the vestibular nerve, and is often attributed to a viral infection [Swartz and Longwell, 2005; Kuo et al, 2008a]. Hearing loss is a feature of labyrinthitis, but hearing is not affected in vestibular neuronitis. For more information on the management of labyrinthitis, see the CKS topic on Vertigo.
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