MENIERE'S DISEASE

Meniere's disease is a condition of the inner ear that causes episodes which is characterized by:

• Feeling of spinning (vertigo)
• Fluctuating hearing loss
• Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
• Feeling of pressure in your ear

The name is derived from the name of a French doctor, Prosper Meniere's, who suggested in the 1860s that the symptoms came from the inner ear and not the brain.

Generally, Meniere's disease affects only one ear which may often progress to both ears over time. It is a chronic condition which can happen at any age but generally starts between the age of 20 and 50. There are various treatment options available to diminish the impact of the condition on your life and ameliorate the symptoms.

The exact cause of the Meniere's disease is not clearly understood. But, as per the research it is believed that Meniere's disease is a result of the accumulation of high pressure of the fluid in the ear. Risk factors which are thought to increase the pressure are:

• Wound in the head
• Contamination of the internal or middle ear
• Allergic reactions
• Intense strain
• Medication side effects
• Tobacco use
• Exhaustion
• Hereditary history of diseases
• Hemicrania, Migraines
• Viral infection, such as meningitis
• Immune system disorder

The symptoms of Meniere's disease are caused by the accumulation of fluid in the compartments of the inner ear (labyrinth). The labyrinth consists of :

• The organs of balance (the semicircular canals and otolithic organs )
• The organ for hearing (and the cochlea)

Labyrinth is divided into two segments:

• The bony labyrinth
• The membranous labyrinth.

The membranous labyrinth is packed with a fluid endolymph that, in the balance organs, stimulates receptors as the body moves. The stimulated receptors then transmit the signals to the brain about the body’s position and movement.

In response to the sound vibrations in the cochlea, the fluid gets compressed and stimulates sensory cells that then transmit the signals to the brain.

In Meniere's disease, the endolymph accumulated in the labyrinth interferes with the normal balance and hearing signals between the inner ear and the brain. This abnormality causes vertigo and other symptoms of Meniere's disease.

Symptoms Of Meniere's Disease

Symptoms of the disease varies from person to person. Usually, they may last only for minutes or hours. But, it will take a day or two for the symptoms to disappear completely. Symptoms include:

• Dizziness with a spinning sensation (vertigo)
• Unsteadiness on your feet
• Nausea
• Vomiting sensation
• Ringing, roaring or buzzing sound inside the ear
• Loss of hearing in the affected ear
• Headache

You should visit the physician if you encounter any of the above symptoms. If this is neglected and not treated, it can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Diagnosis Of Meniere's Disease

It is s a chronic condition with no cure. But, few treatments can help t o get relief from the symptoms.

• Medication: Few motion sickness medicines can be used to relieve the symptoms of nausea, vomiting and vertigo. (Please follow your doctor's advice)
• Rehabilitation : Vestibular rehabilitation therapy might help in improving the balance problems between episodes of vertigo.
• Hearing aids: helps improve hearing.
• Surgery: Surgery is recommended in severe cases. Type of surgeries include:
  1. Endolymphatic sac procedure: Endolymphatic sac helps in regulating the fluid levels in the inner ear. This surgery helps involves the removal of a small bone over this thus alleviates the vertigo by decreasing fluid production or increasing fluid absorption.
  2. Vestibular nerve section: It is an inpatient treatment performed under general anesthesia. The procedure involves the cutting of the nerve that connects balance and movement sensors in the inner ear to the brain (vestibular nerve). This procedure corrects problems with vertigo and preserves hearing in the affected ear
  3. Labyrinthectomy: This is performed in patients with complete hearing loss. It involves the removal of the balance portion of the inner ear, thereby removing both balance and hearing function from the affected ear.

Treatment Of Meniere's Disease Of Meniere's

It is s a chronic condition with no cure. But, few treatments can help to get relief from the symptoms.

• Medication: Few motion sickness medicines can be used to relieve the symptoms of nausea, vomiting and vertigo. (Please follow your doctor's advice)
• Rehabilitation : Vestibular rehabilitation therapy might help in improving the balance problems between episodes of vertigo.
• Hearing aids: helps improve hearing.
• Surgery: Surgery is recommended in severe cases. Type of surgeries include:
  1. Endolymphatic sac procedure: Endolymphatic sac helps in regulating the fluid levels in the inner ear. This surgery helps involves the removal of a small bone over this thus alleviates the vertigo by decreasing fluid production or increasing fluid absorption.
  2. Vestibular nerve section: It is an inpatient treatment performed under general anesthesia. The procedure involves the cutting of the nerve that connects balance and movement sensors in the inner ear to the brain (vestibular nerve). This procedure corrects problems with vertigo and preserves hearing in the affected ear
  3. Labyrinthectomy: This is performed in patients with complete hearing loss. It involves the removal of the balance portion of the inner ear, thereby removing both balance and hearing function from the affected ear.

Why Choose BSR?

BSR ENT Hospital is one of the renowned ENT Specialist Hospital in Secunderabad, Hyderabad with a high success rate of surgeries and clinical outcomes since the past 40 years.

The latest technologies and the equipment further support the vision of BSR to provide the best in class treatment facilities to patients. The staff is patient-centric. The diagnosis and treatment is quick as the hospital is equipped with in-house laboratory to conduct tests. BSR believes in patient-centric approach and care. Affordable care and quality treatment, makes BSR popular with their patients.