Meniere's disease

What it is

Meniere's disease, or endolymphatic hydrops, is due to inadequate absorption of endolymph, where the endolymphatic system is distended with endolymph.

Causes and risk

The triggers are high salt intake, stress, nicotine, caffeine and alcohol.

How it presents

Attacks of vertigo come with tinnitus and aural fullness, and the episodes tend to last minutes to hours. Meniere's disease is a frequent cause of sensorineural hearing loss, and it belongs in the differential of headache, of hearing loss or tinnitus, and of a sensation of aural fullness.

Nystagmus is recognised. Symptoms triggered by a sudden change in head position are the least recognised, and that is what separates it from benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.