Early symptoms of Ménière's disease

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 23, 2024
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Ménière's disease is a relatively common inner ear disorder. Its initial symptoms are numerous, with dizziness being the most common, predominantly vertigo. It may also be accompanied by tinnitus, mild hearing loss, and some patients may experience nausea, vomiting, and a feeling of fullness in the ears. There are individual differences in specific symptoms. After the onset, it is recommended to visit an otolaryngology department. Tests such as audiological examination, cochlear electrography, and MRI of the inner ear can be conducted. Through these auxiliary examinations, combined with the patient's clinical symptoms and the doctor's clinical experience, a definitive diagnosis can be made, which is important for subsequent treatment. During the treatment process, regular follow-ups are needed to observe the effects.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What is Ménière's disease?

Meniere's disease is a relatively common otolaryngological condition, related to the accumulation of fluid in the inner lymph sac or hydrops of the membranous labyrinth. There is some individual variability in clinical symptoms, with the most common symptoms being tinnitus, hearing loss, a feeling of ear fullness, and vertigo. Generally, the duration of the condition lasts about 20 minutes to half a day. Some patients may experience more severe vertigo, while others may have milder symptoms, depending on individual reactions and the severity of the condition. Most patients have recurrent episodes. In terms of treatment, most patients can consider conservative treatment, but surgical treatment may be necessary for a small number of patients who do not respond well to conservative therapy.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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Can Meniere's disease be cured?

Meniere's disease is a common ENT disorder, and in principle, Meniere's disease can be cured, but it is prone to recurrent attacks. We also call Meniere's disease as endolymphatic hydrops, which is caused by swelling of the inner ear's labyrinth and leads to episodic vertigo. Additionally, the main symptoms in patients are fluctuating hearing loss and tinnitus. During an attack, it is crucial for patients to visit the hospital promptly for a diagnosis, involving cranial MRI and high-resolution CT scans of the temporal bone, to confirm the disease and exclude intracranial and auditory nerve tumor occupancy. Currently, the main treatments involve using vestibular suppressant and vasodilating medications to improve symptoms of vertigo and hearing loss.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Can Meniere's disease heal itself?

Meniere's disease is a relatively common inner ear disorder. Clinically, the common symptoms include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, and hearing loss, and patients may experience recurrent episodes. In terms of treatment, some patients can alleviate symptoms on their own. Generally, the duration of the condition lasts about half a day. If the condition is not particularly severe, patients can recover on their own, but recurrent episodes may still occur. For patients with more severe conditions and pronounced clinical symptoms, medication therapy should be considered. Most patients can consider oral medication, a minority may need intravenous therapy, and some patients who experience multiple recurrent episodes and do not respond well to conservative treatment may need to consider surgery. (Please follow a doctor's guidance regarding specific medication usage.)

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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Does Meniere's disease spread?

Meniere's disease is not contagious. The occurrence of Meniere's disease is due to the stimulation of the inner ear caused by fluid accumulation in the inner ear labyrinth, leading to symptoms such as fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, ear fullness, and vertigo. The pathogenesis of Meniere's disease is not yet fully understood. When symptoms such as vertigo occur, it is important to visit a hospital promptly for comprehensive diagnostic tests, including cranial MRI, high-resolution CT of the temporal bone, and pure tone audiometry, to confirm the diagnosis, exclude cervical vertigo and cerebrovascular insufficiency in the posterior circulation, and under the guidance of a specialist, use vasodilators, nerve-nourishing agents, and vestibular suppressants to alleviate related symptoms like vertigo.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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How to alleviate Meniere's disease attacks?

Ménière's disease is a relatively common otolaryngological condition, primarily caused by the accumulation of fluid in the inner lymphatic sac. During the acute phase, it may cause symptoms such as tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo, nausea, and vomiting. If the condition is not particularly severe, some patients can alleviate their symptoms by ensuring rest and avoiding external stimuli. If the condition is more serious, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngologist. Generally, treatment considerations include oral anti-vertigo medications, and some patients may need to consider using diuretics or corticosteroids. Most patients gradually improve with timely medication treatment. (Please follow the doctor's prescription when taking medication.)