In this case study, we present a case of vestibular neuritis, 24 hours after the administration of the Pfizer booster vaccine with the resolution of major symptoms by seven days.
In a British/American cross‐sectional vaccination study among health care workers, self‐reported “vertigo‐like symptoms” were found in 2.49% and “dizziness” in 8.34% of the participants [9, 10].
Vestibular neuronitis may present in patients who have recently been vaccinated and should be treated similarly to non-vaccine-associated vestibular neuronitis.
Among the adverse events following immunization (AEFI) reported, those of an audiovestibular interest, such as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), tinnitus, dizziness, and vertigo, constitute a very small percentage.
Balance disorders can be related to vascular damage because the inner ear structures are particularly vulnerable to ischemia due to their terminal vasculature. Malayala et al. (28) presented vestibular neuritis cases in 4 positive and 2 suspected COVID-19 patients.
Vestibular neuritis is a self-limiting disease with vestibular symptoms lasting for one to two days, followed by a gradual reduction in symptoms. Rarely does the illness lasts more than several days to a few weeks.
The most common causes of vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis are viral infections, often resulting from a systemic virus such as influenza (flu) or the herpes viruses, which cause chickenpox, shingles and cold sores.
Along with ringing in their ears, participants reported a range of other symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, vertigo, ear pain, anxiety and depression. Significantly more people first developed tinnitus after the first dose of the vaccine, compared with the second.
Common (not rare) side effects of COVID-19 vaccine
When you get a sore arm, fever or fatigue after vaccination, those reactions are your body's way of jumping into action to protect you. These "immune effects" include pain where the needle went in, fever, chills, headache, fatigue and body aches.
The spectrum of Long COVID symptoms is wide (1, 2) and may often include the neurotological symptom complex of tinnitus, hearing loss and vertigo or dizziness (3, 4).
In some patients the damaged vestibular nerve returns to normal function within four to six weeks. Others may experience unsteadiness for several months. It is very rare for someone to have more than one attack of vestibular neuritis, and most people recover completely.
Most of the time, vestibular neuritis goes away on its own. In most cases, this takes several weeks. If the cause is a bacterial infection, your doctor will give you antibiotics. But most cases are caused by viral infections, which can't be cured with antibiotics.
Mild neurological effects of the COVID-19 vaccine include weakness, numbness, headache, dizziness, imbalance, fatigue, muscle spasms, joint pain, and restless leg syndrome are more common, while tremors, tinnitus, and herpes zoster are less common.
Does my Diagnosis Prevent Me from Certain Types of Travel? Having a vestibular disorder does not have to prevent you from traveling.
Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines will get label warning over rare heart risk, FDA says. Numerous COVID-19 vaccines have faced development delays and safety and supply issues, but the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have enjoyed a relatively unfettered ride to the top of the class.
Common undesired reactions after COVID-19 vaccination are usually mild and self-recovering. In general, it is highly recommended to observe any abnormal sign or symptom 30 minutes after vaccine administration. However, severe allergic reactions are often reported to develop within 15 minutes after vaccine is given.
You may experience pain, redness and swelling at the injection site. You may also experience some common side effects after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Symptoms of myocarditis or pericarditis typically appear within 1 to 5 days of vaccination. People who experience any of these symptoms after having an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should seek prompt medical attention: chest pain. pressure or discomfort in the chest.
Inner ear decompression syndrome is the clinical variant most likely to mimic vestibular neuritis, and should be considered even when divers present with isolated vertigo without hearing loss.
Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis are not dangerous, but the symptoms can be incapacitating. The conditions are likely to resolve on their own, or doctors may prescribe medication, depending on the underlying cause.
Labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis is usually caused by a viral infection, such as a cold or flu, so antibiotics will not help. But a GP may prescribe antibiotics if they think your infection is bacterial.