Meniere's Disease Health Article

Definition

Ménière's disease is a disorder characterized by recurrent vertigo, sensory hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. It is named for the French physician, Prosper Ménière, who first described the illness in 1861. Ménière's disease is also known as idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops; "idiopathic" refers to the unknown or spontaneous origin of the disorder, while "endolymphatic hydrops" refers to the increased fluid pressure in the inner ear that causes the symptoms of Ménière's disease.

Description

Patients with Ménière's disease have periodic attacks characterized by four major symptoms:

• Vertigo. This is a spinning or whirling sensation that affects the patient's sense of balance; it is sometimes violent. The vertigo is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
• Fluctuating loss of hearing.
• Tinnitus. This is a sensation of ringing, buzzing, or roaring noises in the ear. The most common type of tinnitus associated with Ménière's is a low-pitched roaring.
• A sensation of fullness, pressure, or discomfort in the ear.

Some patients also experience headaches, diarrhea, and pain in the abdomen during an attack.

Attacks usually come on suddenly and last from two or three to 24 hours, although some patients experience an aching sensation in the affected ear just before an attack. The attacks typically subside gradually. In most cases, only one ear is affected; however, 10–15% of patients with Ménière's disease are affected in both ears. After a severe attack, the patient often feels exhausted and sleeps for several hours.

The spacing and intensity of Ménière's attacks vary from patient to patient. Some people have several acute episodes relatively close together, while others may have one or two milder attacks per year or even several years apart. In some patients, attacks occur at regular intervals, while in others, the attacks are completely random. In some patients, acute attacks are triggered by psychological stress, menstrual cycles, or certain foods. Patients usually feel normal between episodes; however, they may find that their hearing and sense of balance get slightly worse after each attack.