When illness strikes, a common and often unsettling symptom is dizziness. This sensation can range from mild lightheadedness to vertigo, a feeling that the world is spinning. While often disorienting, dizziness during sickness is frequently a temporary and manageable response as the body fights infection. Understanding its causes can help.
Systemic Responses to Illness
Illness often causes dizziness through systemic responses. Dehydration is a common factor, occurring when fluid loss from fever, vomiting, or diarrhea exceeds intake. This reduces blood volume, hindering blood and oxygen delivery to the brain, causing lightheadedness.
Fever also contributes to dizziness. It causes blood vessels to widen, temporarily lowering blood pressure and affecting blood flow, resulting in lightheadedness or unsteadiness. The body’s energy expenditure to fight infection, combined with reduced nutrient intake, can also lead to general weakness and fatigue.
Another common cause linked to illness is orthostatic hypotension, a temporary drop in blood pressure when changing positions, especially when standing up quickly. Illness, particularly when accompanied by dehydration and overall weakness, can exacerbate this effect, causing a sudden rush of dizziness as blood struggles to reach the brain against gravity.
Specific Organ System Involvement
Beyond systemic responses, certain infections or inflammatory conditions can directly affect the body’s balance mechanisms, leading to dizziness. Inner ear infections, such as labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis, are common examples. These conditions involve inflammation of the inner ear’s labyrinth or the vestibular nerve, which transmits balance information to the brain.
Labyrinthitis affects both hearing and balance parts of the inner ear, potentially causing severe dizziness, vertigo, nausea, and sometimes hearing issues or ringing in the ears. Vestibular neuritis primarily inflames the vestibular nerve, leading to intense vertigo and balance problems without affecting hearing. Both conditions can result from viral infections, often resolving within a few weeks, though symptoms can be quite disruptive initially.
Sinus congestion and pressure can also sometimes contribute to feelings of unsteadiness. Sinuses near the ears, with severe inflammation or mucus buildup, can create pressure changes affecting the Eustachian tubes. This pressure can lead to a sensation of ear fullness or imbalance, contributing to dizziness, though it is less likely to cause the severe spinning sensation associated with true vertigo compared to inner ear infections.
Medication Side Effects
Medications taken to alleviate illness symptoms can sometimes inadvertently cause dizziness as a side effect. Antihistamines, commonly used for allergies or cold symptoms, can induce drowsiness and dizziness, particularly older formulations. These medications can affect the central nervous system, leading to impaired coordination and concentration.
Decongestants, another frequent choice for cold and flu relief, can sometimes cause jitters or affect blood pressure, contributing to lightheadedness in susceptible individuals. Certain pain relievers, especially those with sedative properties, may also lead to drowsiness and dizziness. Even some antibiotics, prescribed for bacterial infections, list dizziness as a potential side effect, highlighting the importance of reading medication information.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While dizziness during illness is often temporary, certain signs indicate a need for medical evaluation. Seek prompt medical attention if dizziness is accompanied by red flag symptoms such as a sudden, severe headache, confusion, difficulty speaking, or vision changes like double vision. Numbness or weakness in the face or limbs, difficulty swallowing, or uncontrollable hiccups also warrant immediate care.
It is also advisable to consult a healthcare professional if dizziness is severe, does not improve, or worsens over time, or if it significantly interferes with daily activities. Persistent vomiting, a high fever that does not respond to typical care, or any loss of consciousness alongside dizziness are also concerning. Individuals with pre-existing health conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, should be particularly cautious and discuss any new or worsening dizziness with their doctor.