Meniere's syndrome is a disease of the inner ear characterized by recurrent severe vertigo, usually accompanied by deafness and ringing or other noises in the ear. Meniere's syndrome most frequently attacks middle-aged people, but it also affects younger and older persons.

Cause: The exact cause is unknown but some researchers believe that the symptoms are produced by disturbances of the inner ear involving a distension of the membranous labyrinth, a degeneration of the organ of Corti, and increased fluid pressure-conditions sometimes associated with ear infections, disturbances in blood flow to the ears, or the ingestion of toxic substances.

Symptoms: The intensity of symptoms varies widely, from the very mild to the extreme. The duration can range from minutes to days, or even longer. Some patients lose hearing at a rapid rate and become deafened in the affected ear quickly; while other patients lose hearing more slowly and never become totally deafened. Majority of patients are unilateral, having Meniere's disease in just one ear; other patients are bilateral, having Meniere's disease in both ears. Common Symptoms includes;

• Fluctuating hearing loss (hearing is good sometime and bad sometimes)
• Vertigo or spinning sensation
• Fluctuating ringing in the ears
• Pressure in the ears

Treatments: Meniere's disease is incurable and progressive, but there are many possible treatments which can help patients lessen or manage the disease. The good thing is this disease is not fatal.

Treatment of Symptoms:

• Dietary Management. Avoid foods with high sodium content, foods with high cholesterol or triglyceride content foods with high carbohydrate content chocolate, excessive sweet, caffeine and tobacco.
• Medication. The goal of these medications is to mask the vertigo. Antivertigo drugs: 1 tablet every 8 hours or as needed. Diuretics, l "water pill" a day in the mornings.

Diagnosis:

• Hearing test to know the patient's present hearing acuity and if there is any hearing fluctuation.
• Blood test to know if there are any salt/sugar imbalances, infections and hormonal problems.
• ENG test. Test of the inner ear functions particularly the semicircular canals. This test measures the inner ear's response to warm and cold water. The test tells whether the inner ears are weak. This test in done on an empty stomach.
• ECOG test. A test specific for distortion of the nerve-containing membranes of the inner ear, presumably due to pressure fluctuations of the perilymph. It is the most accurate test when Meniere's symptoms are obvious.
• ABR test. A test done to see if there is anything that slows the transmission of sound impulses to the brain along the hearing nerve.
• MRI Scan. It is a brain scan that looks for abnormal masses, but it is important to know that tumors are rarely found.