The three most common symptoms of labyrinthitis are dizziness, hearing loss and vertigo - the sensation that you, or the environment around you, is moving.
These symptoms can range from mild to severe. For example, some people may only feel mildly dizzy and out of balance.
Hearing loss can affect one or both ears and can range from mild to total loss of hearing.
Other people have reported that their symptoms of vertigo and loss of balance were so intense that they could no longer remain upright and were worried that they might have been having a stroke.
Other symptoms of labyrinthitis include:
- a feeling of pressure inside your ear(s)
- ringing or humming in your ear(s) (tinnitus)
- fluid or pus leaking out from your ear(s)
- ear pain
- feeling sick (nausea)
- being sick
- a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
- changes in vision, such as blurred vision or double vision
Why am I so dizzy?
There are a number of things that sometimes make dizziness worse, including:
- head movements
- colds or illness
- computers
- the dark
- small rooms and crowds
- tiredness
- menstruation
- focusing on people, or sitting for periods of time
- walking
- being in shops and supermarkets
Avoid driving, using tools and machinery, or working at heights if you're feeling dizzy and unbalanced.
Read more information about how labyrinthitis is treated.
