Giorgia Meloni suffers from otoliths: “Bedridden and in the dark”

Giorgia Meloni had an “otolith” problem that forced her “in bed and in the dark” for almost two days. This is an ear problem that can make you dizzy and affect your balance. This is the reason for the reluctance of the Prime Minister, who, among other things, had to postpone the year-end press conference scheduled for January 4. On the evening of Wednesday, December 27, Giorgia Meloni was visited at her home by an ear doctor who diagnosed “otolytic syndrome” and performed “maneuvers” to resolve the situation. However, it is stated that the prime minister’s health condition is good.

Initially, collaborators explained that this was thought to be “post-flu effects” because Meloni “had been experiencing nausea and dizziness for several days.” Then we thought about labyrinthitis. At the end of his home examination, the ENT specialist detected “benign paroxysmal positional vertigo”, that is, a problem with similar symptoms in the otoliths. “After the maneuver this morning, thanks to the collar that prevents sudden movements, he got up and is doing well.” The Prime Minister’s collaborators add that this will continue for a few more days “as a precaution”.

However, Giorgia Meloni is in better shape and can stand up and talk on the phone thanks to the leash. Therefore, the year-end press conference, postponed to 21 and 28 December, was rescheduled for 11:00 on January 4, “in agreement with the Journalists Association”, as the prime minister’s collaborators announced. The conference will therefore take place the day after the meeting called by the National Federation of the Italian Press (Fnsi) to express the CDR’s opinion on the possibility of a national strike by journalists against the delegation sent to the government to issue a preliminary detention order. Orders that cannot be published after they have been referred to the decision approved by the Chamber. In order to protest this rule, Fnsi announced that it wanted to cancel Giorgia Meloni’s press conference.

Giorgia Meloni has an otolith, what is it?

Otoliths (coming from the Greek words oto, ear and lithos, stone) are very small calcium oxalate formations, that is, pebbles, found in the cells covering the inner ear, that is, in the part of the ear located within the eardrum. This system consists of a sensitive apparatus that allows you to maintain your balance and direct your movement and direction. The inner ear contains structures carved into the bone, containing fluid (called endolymph) and ciliated cells that represent balance sensors. Above these cells is an otolith layer, which stimulates the eyelashes with every movement of the head and sends information to the brain about the change in head position.

If the otoliths detach from the cell surface and move freely in the semicircular canals of the ear, the hair cells are accidentally stimulated, sending altered movement information to the brain and causing dizziness. When this condition occurs, it is called benign positional vertigo (BPPV) or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

Vertigo is defined as positional because it only occurs when you take a certain position: Most often when you move from a lying position to an upright position or vice versa, or when your head turns on the pillow. Vertigo is defined as paroxysmal when it is manifested by brief, intense dizziness lasting up to a minute; It is defined as benign because it is not due to serious pathologies and can heal if treated appropriately. Symptoms are debilitating, disabling and can cause anxiety. The discomfort and spinning sensation that causes vertigo is very severe and intense and is often associated with nausea, vomiting, and involuntary eye movements (called nystagmus).

Treatment of vertigo caused by otolith separation mainly involves some maneuvers that reposition the otoliths. Surgical interventions or the use of medications are almost never indicated.