Meniere’s disease is a disease of the inner ear, the characteristic signs of which are tinnitus, bouts of deafness, frequent dizziness, etc. The most common is the unilateral form of the disease, but in about 10% of cases Meniere’s disease affects both ears. It occurs with the same frequency in representatives of both sexes. Most often occurs at the age of 30 to 60 years.
reasons
Meniere’s disease develops due to an increase in the volume of the labyrinth fluid in the inner ear, as a result of which pressure increases in it and edema forms. The fluid can also get into other parts of the inner ear, which causes their functioning to malfunction.
At the moment, it is believed that this ailment develops as a consequence of damage to the inner ear, the cause of which may be the following factors:
inflammatory diseases of the inner ear;
allergic reactions;
vascular diseases;
tumor diseases;
acute infectious diseases and their complications;
head injuries, concussions;
diseases of the endocrine system of the body;
In some cases , the causes of Meniere ‘s disease also include:
alcohol abuse;
regular intake of aspirin;
smoking;
caffeine abuse;
violations of salt metabolism.
SYMPTOMS AND CLASSIFICATION
The symptoms of Meniere ‘s disease include:
tinnitus;
frequent dizziness;
paroxysmal hearing loss;
ear congestion;
gradual deterioration of hearing;
nausea and vomiting;
increased sweating;
difficult orientation in space;
loss of balance;
increased fatigue;
visual disorders;
headaches;
memory deterioration.
According to the type of manifestations , this disease is classified as follows:
cochlear form – hearing disorders are the most pronounced. This form of the disease is the most common;
the classic type – disorders of the vestibular system and hearing appear simultaneously. This form of the disease occurs in 25-30% of cases;
vestibular form – vestibular disorders are the most pronounced. The rarest type of Meniere’s disease occurs in about 15% of cases.
diagnostics
Diagnosis of this disease begins with the collection of patient complaints and the study of anamnesis. Meniere’s disease has a lot of symptoms inherent in other diseases, so it is extremely important to differentiate it at the diagnostic stage.
The diagnosis of Meniere’s disease can be established after passing the following examinations:
audiometry;
electrocochleography;
otoscopy;
vestibulometric examinations;
magnetic resonance imaging.
Diagnosis and treatment of Meniere’s disease should be handled by an experienced otolaryngologist.
treatment
In most cases, outpatient treatment is prescribed for the treatment of Meniere’s disease. Drug therapy traditionally includes: antihistamines, sedatives and diuretics. If necessary, antiemetic drugs can be prescribed.
Patients are recommended to follow a diet with a low salt content. The patient needs to give up smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol. In moments of dizziness attacks, bed rest should be observed in order to avoid injury.
Thanks to modern drugs, seizures are stopped relatively easily, and regular medication significantly improves the quality of life of patients.
In rare cases, surgical treatment may be prescribed. Operations on the inner ear are extremely time-consuming, therefore they should be carried out exclusively by experienced specialists.
