Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear in which the tiny membranous (soft) channel that holds fluid in the inner ear swells abnormally, resulting in hearing loss (typically fluctuating but may be permanent), vertigo, the sensation of ear fullness, and tinnitus (ringing of the ear, typically described as a low pitched hum, buzz, or roar). Treatment is usually medical - low salt diet, diuretics (water pills), steroids (anti-inflammatories), or histamines (drugs that dilate or open the tiny blood vessels in the inner ear). Medications may be injected into the middle ear in cases of sudden hearing loss or intractable vertigo. Surgery is usually reserved for severe cases of vertigo.
