Vestibular Neuritis

Vestibular neuritis (VN) is a clinical condition characterized by loss of unilateral peripheral vestibular function in the absence of acute central neurological or acute audiological findings. Proposed etiologies include latent viral infection, vascular ischemia, and autoimmune reaction. The main symptoms are acute or subacute onset of spinning sensation, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Vertigo is rotational and increases with head movements. Patient history, bedside examination, and vestibular laboratory tests are used to make the diagnosis. The main role of radiological imaging, most commonly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is to rule out central pathologies, but bedside evaluation protocols are usually more accurate for topodiagnosis. There is no single treatment that is considered definitive for vestibular neuritis because the cause of this condition is not fully understood. The main goal of treatment is to relieve vertigo and allow the person to return to normal life. Although vestibular neuritis is not dangerous on its own, it can be mistaken for a stroke, which can be life-threatening, and dizziness in all patients can be a sign of an underlying central disease.