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Key Points
➤ Ménière's disease (MD) is a clinical syndrome affecting approximately
50–200/100,000 adults and is most common between the ages of
40–60.
➤ The diagnosis of MD is made clinically since the disease
typically presents with unilateral ear symptoms that can last for
several decades. MD attacks are typically random and episodic
(approximately 6–11/year), with periods of remission that may last
months to years.
• As such, the diagnosis of MD is typically not made at one point in time; rather
it may take months or even years to fully appreciate the clinical manifestations
leading to definitive diagnosis.
➤ The natural course of MD is typically progressive and fluctuates
unpredictably.
➤ It is important to clinically distinguish MD from other independent
causes of vertigo such as otosyphilis, vestibular neuritis and acute
labyrinthitis that may mimic MD since they also present with hearing
loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness.
➤ The goals of MD treatment are to prevent or at least reduce the
severity and frequency of vertigo attacks. In addition, treatment
approaches aim to relieve or prevent hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural
fullness and to improve overall quality of life.
