Acute labyrinthitis: a possible association with influenza

Acute labyrinthitis occurs annually in one in 600 patients, mostly adults in our practice, and lasts for up to two weeks. It may be related to several different viral infections, the commonest of which is influenza A. In an influenza epidemic there was an incidence of the syndrome in one in 100 cases. In the majority of cases there was no demonstrable cause and the aetiology remains speculative. It is suggested that some cases may be associated with viruses as yet unidentified.