Theo Paphitis, 60, is best known for being one of the dragons in the popular business programme Dragons’ Den. He is also the former chairman of Millwall Football Club and according to The Sunday Times Rich List is worth a cool £290million. Despite his stern ways, Theo was brought to his knees when he was struck with an illness known as labyrinthitis which left him fearing for his own life.
Theo discussed how he was “floored” by a condition known as labyrinthitis.
Speaking to The Mirror, he said: “I had the most horrendous thing and I thought I was dying.
“It was so bad if you had said, ‘I am going to make you better, give me all your money,’ I would have given you all my money.”
“It knocked me out for a week.”
What is labyrinthitis?
Labyrinthitis is an inner ear disorder.
The two vestibular nerves in your inner ear send your brain information about your spatial navigation and balance control, explained Healthline.
It continued: “When one of these nerves becomes inflamed, it creates a condition known as labyrinthitis.
“Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, and loss of hearing.”
What causes labyrinthitis?
Labyrinthitis can occur at any age. A variety of factors can cause labyrinthitis, including:
Respiratory illnesses, such as bronchitis
Viral infections of the inner ear
Stomach viruses
Herpes viruses
Bacterial infections, including bacterial middle ear infection
Infectious organisms, such as the organism that causes Lyme disease
How to treat it
As the NHS explained, the symptoms of labyrinthitis usually subside within a few weeks.
“Treatment involves drinking plenty of fluid to avoid becoming dehydrated, bed rest, and medication to help you cope better with the symptoms,” explained the health site.
Labyrinthitis is usually caused by a viral infection, in which case antibiotics will not help. But a person will be offered antibiotics if their doctor thinks their infection is bacterial, said the health body.
If the symptoms persist past three weeks, a person may need to be referred to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.
Doctors can generally diagnose labyrinthitis during a physical exam.
In some cases, it’s not obvious during an ear exam, so a complete physical exam, including a neurological evaluation, should be performed.
Symptoms of labyrinthitis can mimic those of other conditions.
Your GP may order tests to rule them out.
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