Meniere’s disease, named after French physician Prosper Ménière was first described in the early 19th century (1)
- both Ménière's disease and Ménière's syndrome are conditions thought to be caused by an increased pressure within the endolymphatic system. Hence the term endolymphatic hydrops (a swelling of the membranous labyrinth of the inner year) is often used synonymously
- however Ménière's disease is an idiopathic condition while Ménière's syndrome results secondary to various processes interfering with normal production or resorption of endolymph e.g. - endocrine abnormalities, trauma, medications, parasitic infections and hyperlipidaemia (2).
- usually affects only one ear but in around 30% cases both ears may be affected (3)
One population-based UK study found an overall incidence rate of 13.1 per 100,000 person-years (4).
- it is slightly more common in females, with a 2.17:1 female-to-male ratio (5)
- generally common in the fourth to sixth decades of life and consequently the incidence of new onset disease is low (6)
- a GP may expect to come across a new case only a few times in their career
Around 7-10% of sufferers have a family history of the disease. Several studies have reported that similar symptoms were seen in up to 20% of family members (4)
Reference:
- Harcourt J, Barraclough K, Bronstein AM. Meniere's disease. BMJ. 2014;349:g6544
- Magnan J et al. European Position Statement on Diagnosis, and Treatment of Meniere's Disease. J Int Adv Otol. 2018 Aug;14(2):317-321
- Ménière’s disease. Ménière’s society. (Online, 2025)
- Bruderer SG et al; Population-Based Study on the Epidemiology of Meniere's Disease. Audiol Neurootol. 2017;22(2):74-82
- Kim MH, Cheon C. Epidemiology and seasonal variation of Ménière's disease: data from a population-based study. Audiol Neurootol. 2020;25(4):224-30.
- Wu V, Sykes EA, Beyea MM, et al; Approach to Meniere disease management. Can Fam Physician. 2019 Jul;65(7):463-467.