Question

Ms. V is a 32-year-old assistant professor in a demanding discipline. After a stressful year, she decided to take an extended vacation at a mountain resort in Colorado. A few months ago, she had visited her physician, complaining of a ringing in her ears accompanied by dizziness and nausea. After a few weeks, the problem seemed to go away, but within a few days after arriving in the mountains, she experienced loud tinnitus in one ear, along with dizziness and nausea.

1. Relate the pathophysiologic changes during an episode to the signs and symptoms Ms. V experienced. (See Ménière’s Syndrome.)

2. Discuss the conditions that could cause or exacerbate an attack, with special attention to the patient’s circumstances. (See Ménière’s Syndrome.)

3. Discuss the course of this syndrome and the treatments available for the patient. (See Ménière’s Syndrome.)

Answer 1

1.The overaccumlation of endolymph causes disruption of the membraneous labrynth.The endolymph causes dilation of semicircular canal and cause degeneration of vestibular and cochlear cells.It causes vertico, balance problems, rinnitus and hearing damage.

2.Some triggering factors like stress, overwork, pressure change, fatigue etc will exacerbrate the symptoms of meniers disease and in this case the person visited mountain resort, the pressure changes and fatigue caused the person to have the symptoms.

3.Due to imbalance of endolymph, pressure variations occur and the person will have vertigo sometimes followed by vomiting and fullness of ear alsp occurs. If not treated permanent hearing loss occurs. Treatment includes Vestibular rehabilitation and use of Hearing aids. Avoid tobacco, caffeine and low sodium diet. Diuretics and antiemetics used to relieve symptoms.