Can a virus cause tinnitus?

[Rolson77]

Two months ago I had tonsillitis. During this time I developed tinnitus. It's been two months today since it started and I've had enough of it. I'm really scared it'll never go away. I was really hoping my ear was just inflamed and would recover. It hasn't. I can't sleep. I can't concentrate at work. The amount of work I get done in a day has rapidly decreased as I can't focus. I'm exhausted. It reduces me to tears. Was the tonsillitis a coincidence? I just don't know why it's started now. I look after my ears. Never use cotton buds, am always the one who gets laughed at for wearing ear plugs at gigs. I'm just so fed up.

It just adds to the noise I've had for years. This was initially more noticeable because it's reactive and when it was fresh, noise was one of the triggers so it was like someone played a triangle every time someone spoke.

I know exactly what you mean when you say reactive. Mine is always worse at night but the after effects of using a hairdryer are just terrible.

There's no escape is there.😔

I totally sympathise, when I first got "T", I thought I was going to loose my mind, and couldn't sleep or work, but just held on to the belief that "you'll get used to it"

It took a few months, but I did, and life is back to normal. It may sound crazy but I wouldn't want it to stop now, for fear of it coming back.

So my advice is it will get better, and your brain will start to ignore it.

If you want a laugh, it actually took me months to figure out it was tinnitus, and track it back to the Covid. I mean it was obvious in hindsight, but at the time it started it was relatively quiet and whistly, and only on one side, and I was only hearing it when the house was quiet, so in bed at night. I had a plumber in more than once because it was driving me mad, and I was convinced it was coming from pipework in my bedroom. Oddly enough the plumber didn't find anything. Then it got louder, and I heard it elsewhere, so the penny dropped. Then eventually (fingers crossed) settled down.

Yeah mine got worse each time I had covid or the jab, too. Usually settled back to its normal level after a week or so.

There are lots of things that can trigger tinnitus, and I'm sure something like a viral infection could cause it.

There are quite a few medical conditions, not related to the ear, that can cause it, and it can also be a side effect of some quite common medications.

I always get it after drinking too much...!

Yes! I had the weirdest hearing issues last time I had tonsillitis. Double hearing.. like a weird echo and everything sounded off key and robotic. Music sounded like I was in a creepy film.

Could have been the tonsillitis . Could have been the Solpadeine. Stopped taking that as soon as the antibiotics kicked in.

It did disappear. Thankfully!

My tinnitus started when I had an ear infection which turned out to be covid. I listen to the radio pretty much all day, which helps me zone out from the ringing, but it does get a lot worse when I'm tired. Hope they find a cure for it one day it is so annoying!

I get tinnitus frequently anyway but recently had COVID and my tinnitus was always on for about a month and a half.

My normal tinnitus is kind of hissing that pans from ear to ear but this was just a constant tone in my right ear which was my more congested and effected side.

It's gone now though

I developed it. Paid 80 quod for private exam at House of Hearing. Was told I had the adult equivalent of glue ear. Decongestants did the trick.

That's interesting. I know someone that happened to, too. Had you had trouble with your hearing previously?

Have you seen anything about the Covid vaccine compensation scheme? Vaccine Damage Payment: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

You have my sympathy! I developed it after treatment for throat cancer. At first I thought I would go insane but now it’s not disruptive unless I think about it. I think the brain adjusts eventually. I always have the radio on and I find it is worse if I get dehydrated, so try drinking plenty of water. No miracle cure to offer, sadly but hopefully you will be able to cope. I remember wanting to sit by a waterfall as I was sure that would help but none round here!

Also, when I had Covid I
lost my hearing completely for exactly 24 hours. So weird I was in the garden thinking there was no traffic noise and so peaceful, then I realised there was no noise at all! DH rang the GP who said is was definitely temporary (!) and sure enough it was ok the next day.

OP, do pop along to the doctor to check. Tinnitus in one ear only often gets referred for a scan, just to check nothing sinister is going on. I’m sure it’s fine but get it checked, and I hope you get some relief in the meanwhile.

Try green noise op. Much nicer.

One sided tinnitus should always get checked out as it can be a sign of a slow growing benign tumour called an acoustic neuroma.
Though it sounds more likely some fluid build up/blockage after probably ear infection associated with the tonsillitis. But someone needs to look in your ears and if all appears normal then you should be referred for a scan to rule out acoustic neuroma.
Please make an appointment with your GP! If both sides it would be less concerning.