Diseases of the vestibular organ
Diseases of the vestibular apparatus (organ of equilibrium) are usually characterized by dizziness and vertigo. Examples of frequent forms of vestibular vertigo are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular neuritis and Menière’s disease. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (benign = benign, paroxysmal = seizure-like) is a clinical picture of the vestibular organ, which is triggered by a change in the position of the body.
It is caused by stones in the maculae, which irritate the sensory cells. This is called channelolithiasis. Symptoms include vertigo, nausea, vomiting, sham movements of the environment and nystagmus.
This form of dizziness is treated by means of bedding samples. Vestibular neuritis refers to an inflammation of the vestibular nerve. It is conspicuous as continuous rotational vertigo, nausea with vomiting, sham movements, falling tendency and nystagmus.
Therapeutically, bed rest, immobilization of the head, medication against nausea and dizziness (antivertiginosa) and training of the balance are prescribed. The symptoms of Meniere’s disease also include vertigo, nausea, vomiting, falling, nystagmus, tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss. A hydrops of the endolymph in the labyrinth is probably responsible for the symptoms.
The whole thing is treated with medication against nausea and vomiting (antiemetics) and betahistine. Vestibular neuritis refers to an inflammation of the vestibular nerve. It is conspicuous as permanent rotational vertigo, nausea with vomiting, sham movements, falling tendency and nystagmus.
Therapeutically, bed rest, immobilization of the head, medication against nausea and dizziness (antivertiginosa) and training of the balance are prescribed. The symptoms of Meniere’s disease also include vertigo, nausea, vomiting, falling, nystagmus, tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss. A hydrops of the endolymph in the labyrinth is probably responsible for the symptoms. The whole thing is treated with medication against nausea and vomiting (antiemetics) and betahistine.
How are crystals formed?
This section also refers to the so-called “Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo” (BPPV). Here, sudden attacks of vertigo occur due to small crystals (otoliths or statoliths) contained in the organ of equilibrium. These crystals consist mainly of calcium carbonate and are present in the organ of equilibrium in every human being. Normally, however, they are embedded in a kind of “membrane” and remain there. In the case of storage dizziness, the crystals are probably detached and shifted into the liquid-filled veins of the organ of equilibrium.
