Bacterial Meningitis Initially Presenting as Labyrinthitis / 대한평형의학회지

ABSTRACT

Labyrinthitis causes damage to inner ear structure, and in turn hearing loss and vertigo. Labyrinthitis is classified as otogenic labyrinthitis and meningogenic labyrinthitis. Otogenic labyrinthitis can be diagnosed early through otoscopic examination. However, when there are no characteristic neurologic symptoms in patients with meningogenic labyrinthitis, clinicians can overlook the underlying meningitis and this may lead to the peripheral vertigo. We encountered an unusual case of meningogenic labyrinthitis that is misdiagnosed as peripheral dizziness.