Named for the French physician Prosper Meniere who first described the illness in 1861, Meniere's disease is an abnormality within the inner ear characterized by recurring vertigo (dizziness), hearing loss, and tinnitus (a roaring, buzzing or ringing sound in the ears). A fluid called endolymph moves in the membranous labyrinth or semicircular canals within the bony labyrinth inside the inner ear. When the head or body moves, the endolymph moves, causing nerve receptors in the membranous labyrinth to send signals to the brain about the body's motion. A change in the volume of the endolymph fluid, or swelling or rupture of the membranous labyrinth, is thought to result in Meniere's disease symptoms.

The cause of Meniere's disease is unknown. However, scientists are studying several possible causes including noise pollution, viral infections, and other biological factors. Symptoms include severe dizziness or vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and the sensation...