General Information About Meniere's Disease
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a condition of inner ear hypertension that occurs due to an increase in the volume or pressure of the fluid (endolymph) contained inside the channels of the inner ear, which houses both the hearing and balance organs.
They start suddenly without any warning signs. Severe vertigo, where the environment feels like it is spinning rapidly, nausea, vomiting, and an intense roaring/ringing in the affected ear are experienced. Attacks can last from 20 minutes to several hours.
Yes. In the early stages of the disease, hearing loss experienced during an attack improves afterward. However, over the years, recurrent attacks destroy the auditory nerves, leading to permanent deafness (sensorineural type) in that ear.
Excessive salt consumption (increases fluid retention), stress, excessive caffeine, smoking, and certain allergic reactions trigger attacks by increasing pressure in the inner ear.
There is no specific MRI finding. An ENT specialist establishes a clinical diagnosis by evaluating the frequency of the attacks, identifying the low-frequency loss on the Audiometry (hearing) test, and ruling out other diseases that cause vertigo.
A diet based on salt restriction is the most important step. Diuretic medications that lower fluid pressure and vertigo pills that alleviate the moment of the attack are prescribed. In severe cases resistant to medication, cortisone or antibiotics (gentamicin) are injected through the eardrum into the middle ear.
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