This Publication Is Searchable The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy Section 7. Ear, Nose, And Throat Disorders Chapter 85. Purulent labyrinthitis is frequently followed by meningitis as the microorganisms gain access to the subarachnoid space through the cochlear aqueduct.
Purulent labyrinthitis is characterized by severe vertigo and nystagmus.
It invariably results in complete hearing loss and, in chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma, is often followed by facial paralysis. Treatment Treatment with IV antibiotics appropriate for meningitis is usually adequate. Rarely, labyrinthectomy to drain the inner ear or radical mastoidectomy is required. All rights reserved.