Labyrinthitis: A Rare Consequence of COVID-19 Infection

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Otolaryngology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has widespread health implications beyond respiratory symptoms.
• Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 are increasingly recognized, including olfactory and gustatory dysfunction.
• Audio-vestibular system involvement is less commonly reported but represents a significant area of concern.

Observation:

• A patient presented with vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness nine days after a mild COVID-19 diagnosis confirmed by RT-PCR.
• Cerebrovascular causes were excluded through careful assessment.
• The patient's symptoms were attributed to SARS-CoV-2-induced labyrinthitis.

Findings:

• This case report identifies labyrinthitis as a potential neurological manifestation of COVID-19.
• The patient experienced a full recovery within three weeks with standard outpatient therapy for viral labyrinthitis.
• Vestibular neuronitis is a more commonly reported audio-vestibular consequence of COVID-19.

Implications:

• Labyrinthitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of audio-vestibular symptoms in patients with a history of COVID-19.
• COVID-19-related labyrinthitis can be safely managed in the community using established treatment protocols for viral labyrinthitis.
• Further research is warranted to understand the full spectrum of COVID-19's effects on the audio-vestibular system.