Meniere’S Disease: Causes, Symptom and Treatment by Gopesh K. Sharma, MD

This disease is a disorder affecting the inner ear. Severity and frequency of attacks experienced by the patients with This disease may vary from patient to patient.

What do we mean by Meniere’s Disease?

This disease is related with abnormal flow of fluids in the inner ear which causes sudden attacks of vertigo (spinning motion), dizziness, a roaring or ringing sound in your ear (tinnitus), feeling of pressure or fullness and pain in the ear. This disease usually affects one ear only. It is more common in the people of the age group of 40 to 60 years.

What are the causes of Meniere’s disease?

The exact cause of This is still not known. But abnormal volume or mixing of fluids is the largely accepted cause of this disease. Apart from this, many other factors are also considered responsible for triggering this disease:

Circulation Problems
Viral Infection
Allergies
Irregular Fluid Drainage
Genetic Predisposition
Head Injury or Trauma
Migraines
An Autoimmune Reaction
What are the signs and symptoms of Meniere’s Disease?

Symptoms associated with This seem to occur as episodes or attacks. Following are the potential signs and symptoms of Meniere’s disease:

Episodes of vertigo (spinning sensation) followed by off balanced sensation, nausea and at times vomiting
Sweating due to severe vertigo
Tinnitus; perception or feeling of ringing, buzzing, roaring, whistling or hissing sound in the affected ear
Loss of hearing in the affected ear
Drop attacks; severe attacks of dizziness where loss of balance leads to fall
Aural fullness or increased pressure in the ear
Headaches
Sensitivity to loud noises or sounds
What are the treatment options available to treat Meniere’s Disease?

Researches show that most of the patients respond to treatments forwarded for this. Doctors adopt number of strategies including the following to treat and manage the symptoms following this disease:

Medications: Doctors may prescribe certain motion sickness and anti-nausea medications to minimize and relieve the symptoms of vertigo and nausea. Medications to treat dizziness are also prescribed.
Injections: Doctors may also inject antibiotics and steroids into your inner ear through the middle ear to minimize the vertigo and imbalance symptoms.
Hearing Aids: Hearing aids may be advised to improve hearing. Other than this, to improvise the fluid exchange; a device delivering air pulses to middle ear may be fitted into the outer ear.
Surgery: When all these treatment techniques do not prove helpful to improve the condition then to treat severe, recurring and disabling vertigo; surgery is advised as a treatment option. One of the following procedures may be adopted:-

Endolymphatic Sac Procedure is performed to reduce the production of fluid and to increase the fluid drainage.
Vestibular Nerve Section Procedure is performed; where nerve connecting the ear to brain is cut to minimize vertigo.
Labyrinthectomy is performed in case of total hearing loss.
Contact Dr. Gopesh Sharma MD for the detailed oriented and state of art treatment of any of your ear, nose and throat related abnormalities and diseases. We make use of latest techniques and technologies to diagnose and treat your ear, nose and throat related issues.

About the Author

Gopesh K. Sharma, MD