In my quest to figure out what is wrong with my head, I stumbled upon the information that the herpes virus is often the culprit when it comes to inner ear infections and VN. It lives at the base of the neck and lies dormant in the nerve cells in that region until a time of immune compromise when it re-emerges in the form of cold sores. My question is whether or not anyone has any information regarding the link between herpes and inner ear problems. When all my brain fog etc. problems started happening this fall, I was also suffering from back to back monstorous cold sore outbreaks. I contrated HSV-1 when I was about four and all throughout my formative years the virus was very active in my body. Until I was about 18 or so, I got an outbreak at least once a month (not fun!) but the past few years (I'm 21 now) have been pretty quiet in that regard. Then this fall, for no apparent reason, I started getting back to back outbreaks of a magnitude I haven't seen since I was little. I chalked it up to allegies, stress, just being unlucky but now I am starting to think that the sores on my face were not the only way in which the herpes virus was messing with my body. Has anyone else had a flare up of cold sores that happend in conjunction with the beginning of inner ear problems? Has anyone's ENT told them the herpes was probably to blame for their problems. ANY information would be greatly appreciated.

Andrea

Hi Andrea,

Here's 2 papers that might interest you:

HSV-1 not only in human vestibular ganglia but also in the vestibular labyrinth.
Audiol Neurootol 2001 Sep-Oct;6(5):259-62

Vertigo from herpes zoster oticus: superior or inferior vestibular nerve origin?
Laryngoscope 2003 Feb;113(2):307-11

I wonder the same thing as you. Although my labyrinthitis didn't correlate with a mass herpes attack, I still get a real stir in symptoms from herpes attacks - even now at the 18 month mark. Whether it's because it's just a virus causing the stir or herpes itself, I don't know. Do the herpes outbreaks ever give you feelings of depression or the shakes? This happens to me once in a while as the OB begins.

Best....Scott

I recently read an article on the web about a correlation between Meniere's disease and the herpes virus...I wish I remember where it was. If I remember correctly is said something about how the herpes virus was part of the cause of Meniere's disease...
sorry I didn't keep track of where I read that but thought it was interesting.

Hi Firechick...is this it?

Herpes simplex virus and Meniere's disease.
Laryngoscope 2003 Sep;113(9):1431-8
Vrabec JT

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: This study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that Meniere's disease is associated with herpes simplex virus (HSV) reactivation in the vestibular ganglion. STUDY DESIGN: Case control study. METHODS: Vestibular ganglia were obtained from archival surgical pathology specimens from patients undergoing vestibular neurectomy for vertigo caused by Meniere's disease. All patients met criteria for classification as definite Meniere's disease according to American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) criteria. Control specimens were obtained from willed body donors. Sections from each ganglion were studied for prevalence of viral DNA using a nested polymerase chain reaction designed to amplify the HSV DNA polymerase gene. Quantitative analysis determined the number of viral copies per standard unit of ganglionic DNA. RESULTS: HSV DNA was more prevalent in paraffin embedded ganglia from patients with Meniere's disease (100%) than in fresh-frozen control ganglia (81%) (P =.02). Fixation and paraffin embedding substantially reduced recovery of HSV virus in selected control specimens. Quantitative analysis found no correlation between viral copy number in control ganglia processed frozen versus formalin fixed and paraffin embedded. CONCLUSIONS: HSV is more commonly isolated from vestibular ganglia of patients with Meniere's disease than the general population. The routine histologic preparation of formalin fixation and paraffin embedding significantly altered the quantity of virus detected though not in a predictable manner. The study provides supportive evidence for a viral etiology in Meniere's disease.Also:

Timothy Hain, MD
"....herpes simplex DNA is found in the endolymphatic sacs of 12 of 16 Meniere's cases, vs 2 of 26 controls (Linthicum, 2001). Our take on this is that these finding are interesting, and need more investigation."

Yazawa Y, Suzuki M, Hanamitsu M, et al.
Detection of viral DNA in the endolymphatic sac in Meniere's disease by in situ hybridization.
ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec (Switzerland), May-Jun 2003, 65(3) p162-8.

Takahash K, Aono T, Shichinohe M, et al.
Herpesvirus DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of some patients with Meniere's disease.
Microbiol Immunol (Japan), 2001, 45(9) p635-8.

Best....Scott

Hi Andrea and Scott,

When my dizziness first started I was plagued with cold sores in my mouth and all over my tongue. Never officially labeled as Herpes but during the first year of this junk everytime the inside of my mouth broke out in sores and my tongue got inflamed with sores, I was more dizzy. Now this happens every 3-4 months and lasts for about 3 weeks. It really hurts. But, as time goe by, I don't get as dizzy as I did last year with it. Dentist gave me an Rx for a preparation called "miracle rinse". It consists of Mylanta, as a base, lidocaine and Nystatin. Naturally it doesn't do anything for the dizzies but it does help the sores. Herpes? who knows... Can you get Herpes inside the mouth, too?

Another question - Anyone over hear of Herpes infection causing inflammation of the 8th Nerve which can also cause dizziness and vertigo?

Cheers,
Linda

HI Scott
The second article looks familiar.
My father-in-law has Meniere's disease and keeps telling me that's what I have. (But I know it was VL as I have had a positive Caloric test done showing my right ear was damaged)
I sent him some stuff I found but he is not too interested in learning more about his condition. I figure the more information you have, the better able you are to heal.
Off to work,

I just posted this to another site after reading about the HSV link to Meniere's there.

I was treated with 1000mg of Acyclovir over 5 days and it has dramatically cleared up my Meniere's. As a martial artist, I can now do spinning jump moves and vigorously shake my head without triggering an attack or feeling ANY adverse reaction. I'm left with some tinnitus which is ongoing and I assume due to semi-permanent damage.

This dramatic improvement is despite an intensely stressful workload and poor sleep which has not been changed - stress as a causative factor is effectively ruled out.

I was diagnosed with Meniere's over a year ago after increasing hearing problems, dizzy attacks and general feeling of unbalance and being unwell.

I have experienced several severe vertigo attacks and for the last year had varying degrees of continual "seasick" feeling which affected my ability to practice a fairly vigorous kung fu style.

I first came down with a severe HSV attack as an outbreak on the side of my jaw over 10 years ago. I suffer 1 - 2 attacks per year and if I catch them before skin symptoms appear, can suppress with topical Acyclovir (Zovirax).

I typically suffer at least a day of extreme weakness and uniquely "metallic flavoured" headaches as the virus kicks in. These attackes are almost always stress related, eg: intense preparation for an overseas trade show and attending the show.

There has been no apparent link between my Meniere's problems and an HSV attack that results in a skin outbreak. The former have been much more frequent and continual.