Meniere’s disease – causes, symptoms, treatment

Proven content

Meniere’s disease is a rare condition of the inner ear with symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, and progressive loss of hearing. Treatment for Meniere’s disease is to relieve symptoms.

What is Meniere’s disease

Meniere’s disease is a condition related to the inner ear, affecting mainly people over 40-50 years of age. It is also called an endolymphatic or labyrinthine hydrocele because fluid is stored in the membranous labyrinth. The disease is characterized, inter alia, by:

1. dizziness
2. tinnitus
3. hearing problems,
4. imbalance.

The mechanism of the occurrence of Meniere’s disease is not fully known, but it is known that the symptoms of this ailment can be alleviated in many ways. Be it through lifestyle changes, pharmacology or surgery.

Meniere’s disease – causes

The inner ear is the organ responsible for proper hearing. Moreover, inside there is a labyrinth – the organ of balance. The inner ear is filled with fluids, incl. endolymph. Her increased blood pressure is a key cause of all symptoms of Meniere’s disease. Scientists disagree whether the disease is caused by overproduction of endolymph or abnormal flow of endolymph. One thing is for sure – when endolymph pressure rises, you feel dizzy and your hearing is impaired.

The causes of fluid accumulation in the middle ear are unknown, and most of the assumptions remain unproven. There is no single cause for Meniere’s disease as it can be caused by several factors.

Factors influencing the development of Meniere’s disease

1. Viral infections: especially infection with HPV I and II types, Epstein Barr virus and cytomegalovirus.

2. Genetics: genetic predisposition is also an important factor, although the gene responsible for the disease has not been discovered so far, it was observed that patients had Meniere’s disease earlier in the family.

3. Anatomical disorders: insufficient formation of the temporal bone may lead to narrowing or even obstruction of the endolymphatic duct, which in turn disrupts the fluid circulation and increases its pressure.

4. Vascular Disorders: There is a link between Meniere’s disease and migraines. Migraine is a symptom that could indicate illness many years before. Patients diagnosed often report having had migraines in the past.

5. Metabolic disorders: cause the amount of endolymph produced to increase.

6. Psychosomatic disorders.

7. Immunological factor: Meinere’s disease is suspected to be an immune disorder due to the presence of immune complexes in the pouch.

Symptoms of Meniere’s disease

Symptoms concern the labyrinth (organ of equilibrium) and the organ of hearing. Usually they are limited to one ear. They come on suddenly, experience dizziness and have an imbalance. When Menier’s disease persists for a long time, or when the wrong treatment is chosen, the changes may become permanent, as can disorders that occur periodically.

Common symptoms of Meniere’s disease are:

1. sudden dizziness accompanied by hearing problems – these symptoms disappear on their own after a seizure,
2. tinnitus
3. unpleasant feeling of fullness in the ear or ears (if the disease occurs on both sides),
4. hearing impairment.

Dizziness is often preceded by tinnitus and an unpleasant feeling of fullness in the ear. Such dizziness may last from several minutes to several hours. Usually the symptoms affect only one ear, but with time, when the disease begins to lengthen, the symptoms also attack the other ear. This ailment should be treated absolutely – if left untreated, it causes severe hearing impairment.

Diagnosis of Meniere’s disease

The diagnosis of Meniere’s disease is based on a medical history and a more detailed analysis of the symptoms. There are no tests that can XNUMX% determine the presence of Meniere’s disease. However, during the diagnostic process, it is recommended to conduct additional tests in the form of:

1. imaging tests: these include computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, thanks to which the doctor can see the bone and membranous structures of the inner ear on the monitor screen. This test allows for the detection of possible defects in their structure;
2. audiometric tests: thanks to them, it is possible to diagnose hearing defects;
3. glycerol testing: the doctor gives the patient oral glycerol to improve hearing by audiometry. Dizziness and even vomiting can be a negative effect of this test;
4. vestibular tests: thanks to them, it is possible to diagnose excessive activity of the atrium on the affected side.

Treatment of Menierea’s disease

Doctors recommend that patients with Meniere’s disease, first of all, change their lifestyle and limit:

1. alcohol,
2. cigarettes,
3. coffee,
4. salt,
5. chocolate.

Discontinuation of these products may ease the unpleasant ailment of dizziness. In addition, it is important that patients get a lot of rest and try to avoid stressful situations.

When the above recommendations turn out to be insufficient, the next step is to start pharmacological treatment. Specialists most often prescribe antibiotics, antihistamines, corticosteroids and preparations increasing diuresis. In extreme cases, when dizziness is particularly troublesome and recurrent in patients, drainage of the tympanic cavity or cutting of the vestibular nerve is performed.

Drainage of the tympanic cavity – it is a procedure during which an apparatus generating pressure pulses is placed in the inner ear. This improves endolymph flow and accumulation.

Vestibular nerve transection – during the procedure, the communication path between the labyrinth and the centers in the brain is cut. Thanks to this method, data on vertigo are not registered by the brain and we do not feel their unpleasant effects.

Treating Meniere’s disease has the following benefits:

– dizziness, its frequency and intensity is reduced,

– the risk of hearing loss is reduced,

– it is possible to eliminate tinnitus,

– stopping the development of the disease.