Meniere's syndrome is a condition affecting the inner ear. Symptoms of the syndrome, named after a French physician who first described it, include hearing loss, pain, dizziness and ringing in the ear. The cause of the condition is unknown, according to MedlinePlus, but changes in the fluid volume in the inner ear and swelling may contribute to it. Treating individual symptoms may improve quality of life for individuals affected by Meniere's syndrome, but there is no known cure.
Causes and Risk Factors
Around 100,000 individuals develop Meniere's syndrome yearly, according to MedlinePlus. Conditions that may contribute to an increase in fluid in the inner ear, and thus increase the risk of developing Meniere's syndrome, include ear infections; head injuries; and syphilis, the sexually transmitted disease. Other risk factors include smoking, fatigue, allergies and alcohol use. Genetics may also be a factor. Most individuals affected with the condition are over the age of 40, according to the American Hearing Research Foundation.
Symptoms
The symptoms for Meniere's syndrome may come and go and may last for several minutes to hours at a time before ending. Other symptoms may become chronic. Common symptoms include dizziness; vertigo; hearing loss; and tinnitus, a ringing sound or other abnormal sound heard in the inner ear. The hearing loss associated with Meniere's syndrome may affect one or both ears and causes a loss in low-frequency levels of hearing. Sweating, nausea and vomiting, abnormal eye movements, and disorientation causing falls may also occur. Some patients experience a fullness or pain in the ear before other symptoms begin. Other possible symptoms include headaches and diarrhea, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).
Diagnosis
Diagnosing Meniere's syndrome involves reviewing symptoms, performing a hearing test and conducting an MRI scan of the head. An MRI helps rule out any other conditions, such as a brain tumor, that may cause the same symptoms. Doctors may also conduct caloric testing, in which warm and cool air or water is used to irrigate the ears. The test helps determine whether there is a balance disorder.
Treatment
Treatment of the symptoms of Meniere's syndrome is geared toward reducing the amount of fluid in the inner ear. Dietary changes, such as reducing salt intake, limiting alcohol and avoiding caffeine, help control the fluid collection. Allergy medications may also help. Treatment approaches for severe cases of vertigo include removal of the inner ear sense organ, placement of antibiotics directly in the ear space or severing a nerve from the inner ear organ.
Complications
According to the American Hearing Research Foundation, Meniere's syndrome may lead to hair cell death. Hairs in the inner ear help conduct sound. The death of these hair cells leads to deafness in the affected ear.
