Meniere's disease; Inner ear vertigo, sudden hearing loss, equilibrium organ, dizziness
English: Menière’s disease
Menière's disease is an inner ear disease and was first described impressively by the French doctor Prosper Menière in 1861.
In Menière's disease, there is an increased accumulation of fluid (hydrops) in the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear (see anatomy ear). This results in a pathological increase in pressure in the inner ear. This increase in pressure leads to the typical signs of illness (symptoms / complaints): seizure-like, non-provocable vertigo, one-sided noises in the ears (tinnitus) and one-sided hearing loss or hearing loss. In addition, nausea and vomiting can occur.
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Of the Sudden hearing loss, the sudden loss of hearing in one ear and one that may occur with it Ringing in the ear (tinnitus), is a differential diagnosis to Meniere's disease.
It is possible that the first attacks of Menière's disease manifest themselves without symptoms of dizziness, which is why observation and continuous care of the patient is necessary in order to be able to differentiate between these two clinical pictures.
Is the cause of the discomfort in the area of Orthopedics or Internal Medicine, are mainly treating the complaints of the Cervical spine or to name the elimination of allergens as common causes of similar symptoms.
Inflammation of the auditory tract or the inner ear are also important diagnoses to be excluded on the way to determining Menières' disease.
Of the psychogenic dizziness is an important differential diagnosis / alternative causes to Menière's disease.
The vertigo attacks are usually accompanied by violent feelings such as insecurity, Panic attack, severe palpitations, sweating and more extreme fear accompanied.
This Attacks of dizziness do not move from Balance organ in the ear and are therefore subject to different therapeutic measures than the Menière attacks. Psychological care to eliminate anxiety plays an important role in the treatment of psychogenic dizziness.
It is a first and important step in ththerapy of Meniere's diseaseto inform those affected about the possibility of dampening an acute attack with effective medication.
If this occurs, the patient should be due to the dizziness bed rest comply or lie down to avoid falling due to dizziness.
Because of the mostly short duration of the attack, the administration is short-term Anti-nausea medication and vomiting (antiemetic) makes sense. These antiemetic drugs include Vomex ® with the active ingredient dimenhydrinate, Paspertin ® with the active ingredient Metoclopramide and Peremesin ® with the active ingredient Meclozin.
In addition to its antiemetic effect, meclozin also has an effect on the organ of equilibrium: Dizziness is reduced because the drug keeps stimuli away from the organ of equilibrium and this is calmed down - the dizziness improves.
in the acute stage the patient receives infusions with substances for Stimulation of blood circulation in the Inner ear.
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Other drugs are used in the treatment / therapy of Meinère's disease:
$config[ads_text2] not foundIn addition, diuretics can be given to flush the fluid out of the inner ear.
Medical care should also be provided for the patient in the interval between the Menière attacks when the patient has no symptoms.
Balance exercises can be integrated into the therapy program of the Menière patient, so that no general stance and gait uncertainty develops. Safety in movement is thus promoted or can be regained.
Read our general article on this Vertigo training.
If the patient's hearing is impaired to the extent that everyday communication and actions are impaired, technical compensation aids such as Hearing aids or Lip reading training up to Cochlear implant (artificial inner ear) should be considered and its use discussed with the patient.
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If it is not possible to stop the vertigo attacks despite conservative therapeutic measures, a surgical intervention should be considered, by which the hearing and / or balance organ is switched off (see prophylaxis).
As a rule, as the disease persists, hearing loss progresses until Deaf / hearing loss can lead. The Dizzy spells but decrease in strength.
Both inner ears are affected in 10% of patients.
The patient can be prepared for an attack with the following measures: