Definition

Noun: * A medical condition: Labyrinthitis is the inflammation of the inner ear, specifically the labyrinth. This condition disrupts the balance and hearing functions of the inner ear, often leading to symptoms like vertigo, dizziness, nausea, and hearing loss.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The sudden onset of severe vertigo led the doctor to suspect labyrinthitis.
  • She was diagnosed with labyrinthitis after a viral infection.
  • Recovery from labyrinthitis can take several weeks.

Advanced Usage

• Vestibular neuritis vs. labyrinthitis: In medical terminology, "labyrinthitis" specifically implies inflammation affecting both the vestibular (balance) and cochlear (hearing) nerves. When inflammation is believed to affect only the vestibular nerve, the term "vestibular neuritis" is often used, though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably in non-specialist contexts.

Variants and Related Words

• Labyrinthine (adj): Pertaining to or resembling a labyrinth; complex and confusing. In a medical sense, it refers to the inner ear structures.
  • The patient experienced labyrinthine dysfunction.
• Otitis interna: A more formal or alternative medical term for labyrinthitis, meaning "inflammation of the inner ear."

Synonyms

• Inner ear infection: A more general, non-technical term.
• Vestibular neuritis: A closely related condition, as noted in advanced usage.

Related Phrases / Collocations

• To suffer from labyrinthitis: To experience the condition.
  • He is suffering from labyrinthitis and is on bed rest.
• A case of labyrinthitis: An instance of the disease.
  • The clinic treated three new cases of labyrinthitis this month.
• Viral/Bacterial labyrinthitis: Specifying the cause of the inflammation.
  • Antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial labyrinthitis.

Noun

1. inflammation of the inner ear; can cause vertigo and vomiting