In: Nursing
A patient presents to the clinic with complaints of inner ear disturbance. How would you differentiate between labyrinthitis, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and Meniere’s disease? Include pathophysiology, clinical presentation, physical examination, diagnostics, and treatment.
Labyrinthitis:-
It is an inner ear disorder..
Pathophysiology:
There two vertibular nerves in inner ear...It send
brain information about spatial navigation and brain control..When
one of these nerves becomes inflamed it cause this disease..
Clinical presentation:-
This condition will not cause any pain but
symptoms include:
-dizziness,vertigo,loss of balance
-Nausea and vomiting
-Tinnitis,hearing loss in one ear..
-difficulty focusing eyes..
Physical examination:-
doctors use an otoscope they will look throat,nasal
passage and ears..
Pneumatic otoscope:
This instrument used by doctor to determine whether
fluid present behind the eardrum..
Eye movement test:
this test performed to see the eye movement to detect acquired
nystagmus it can cause inner ear infection..this involuntary eye
movement can affect the vision..
Vertigo test:
Romberg test can be conducted to find the balance with standing
position to detect inner ear infection..
Diagnosis:-
Doctors can order for some test to diagnose the
condition
-hearing test,blood test,CT,MRI scan head
-Electroencephalogram(EEG)
-Electronystagmography(ENG) eye movement rest..
Treatement:-
sympatamatic releives by adding these medication like
antihistamine,antivert,sedatives,corticosteroids..Doctors will
prescribe antibiotics in case of active infection,pateint must
follow some techniques to avoid vertigo..
-Avoid quick change of position
-Get up slowly after wakeup..
-Avoid television,computer and bright lights during vertigo..
-when you have vertigo while in your resting time in bed,get up and
sit with head still..
-when you have vertigo avoid driving and machinery works..
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo:-
It is a disorder comes from problem with inner
ear..
Pathophysiology:-
There will some blow to the head..This disorder happen
during ear surgery.viral infection or during prolonged positioning
on the back..It can come with migraines also..
Clinical presentation:
-Dizziness,a sense like moving
surrounding(vertigo),
-Loss of balance
-Nausea and vomiting
Pathophysiology:-
Neurological examination doctors will conduct..Head
impulse test,
Dix-Hallpike test -Prior to this test patient must be
asymptamatic..Lateral nystagmus that beats towards the ground or
the ceiling is considered a positive test,
Supine head roll test
Diagnosis:
ENG and MRI head and body..
Treatement:-
Canalith repositioning will be conducted by
doctor..The aim of this procedure to move particles from the fluid
filled semicircular canals of inner ear into a vestibule..Where
there is particles won't give troubles and absorb easily
-Each position should be maintained for
30seconds..
-Canal plugging surgery
-At home sit down as soon as feel dizzy..
-Walk with stability
Meniere's disease:
This condition affect the inner ear..for this no
permanent cure..
Pathophysiology:
Endolymphatic hydrops include functional or anatomic obstruction of
endolymphatic flow,malabsorption of endolumph,genetic
anamalies,vaso dilation,allergy,viral infection and
autoimmunity..
Clinical presentation:-
-Vertigo,hearing loss,
-ringing sensation,fullness feeling in the ear
-Loss of balance,head aches
-Nausea and vomiting,sweating
Physical examination:-
Audio metry hearing test,balance assessment test for balance
fuction by associating eye movement,
Auditory brainstemresponse test to checking functions of hearing
nerves..
Diagnosis:-
-MRI for any abnormal physical condition in
head..
-Transtympanic electro cochleo graphy(ECOG test)..this
test for detecting inner ear fluid pressure..
-ENg test for measuring eye movement reaction,
-EEG and cranial CT scan..
Treatement:
-Medication for nausea and vomiting doctors will prescribe
antiemetics..If fluid in inner ear doctor will go for prescribing
diuretics..
-Physical therapy: vestibular rehabilitation exercises,hearing
aids..
-surgery::endolymphatic sac procedure they will perform..
- Patient should avoid,salt,coffee,alcohol and only 6 to 8glasses
of eater per day is permitted..