Abstract
Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of vertigo symptoms and potential labyrinth damage in patients with diagnosed Lyme disease (LD). LD can affect the vestibulocochlear nerve, leading to hearing loss and vertigo/dizziness. Material and Methods: The study included a group of 38 patients between the ages of 20 and 77, who were hospitalized due to vertigo/dizziness between 2018 and 2019. All of the patients underwent a detailed medical interview and an otolaryngological and neurological examination, including video electronystagmography (VENG), in addition to audiological and diagnostic tests. Additionally, ELISA and Western blot tests were performed to confirm the diagnosis of LD. Results: In 20 patients (53%), the Romberg trial was positive (p < 0.001). The degree of vestibular dysfunction as shown by the VENG test was associated with the rate of hearing loss as confirmed by the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) test (p = 0.011), and it mainly concerned high-frequency sounds (p = 0.014). Conclusion: Vertigo can be a symptom of LD. It is often associated with labyrinth and hearing-organ damage, which can imply that the inner ear or nerve VIII is dysfunctional in the course of this disease. Antibiotic therapy is effective in reducing otoneurological symptoms.
Highlights
Vertigo is one of the most prevalent symptoms reported by patients, and its occurrence increases with age
Vertigo symptoms include a sensation of spinning or a feeling of unstable ground, and these symptoms often coincided in our study (31/38 patients (81.5%))
The presented study suggests that vertigo can be a symptom of Lyme disease (LD)
Summary
Vertigo is one of the most prevalent symptoms reported by patients, and its occurrence increases with age. Among the most common causes of vertigo are otolaryngological diseases, nervous system diseases and systemic and organ dysfunctions [1]. One alleged group of diseases which can trigger vertigo involves infectious diseases of the nervous system. Many pathogens are said to be in part responsible for inflammation; among them are spirochetes of Borrelia as well as other pathogens transmitted by ticks [2]. Lyme disease (LD) is an increasingly common and recognized infectious disease. Infection occurs as a result of a tick bite, a parasite which is a vector of numerous pathogens, e.g., viruses, bacteria and protozoans [3,4]. The main transmitters of infection are ticks—
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