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Menière's disease in children
Insights
Pediatric Ménière's disease, characterized by hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo, affects children under 14. This study investigated 14 children with Ménière's triad, finding both idiopathic and secondary causes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Ménière's disease is a rare inner ear disorder typically affecting adults.
- Pediatric cases of Ménière's disease are exceptionally uncommon, presenting diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- This study investigated 14 children (≤14 years) presenting with the classic Ménière's triad: cochlear sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and intermittent vertigo.
- The children were evaluated across four neuro-otologic centers.
- The cohort included nine children with idiopathic Ménière's disease and five with secondary Ménière's syndrome.
Findings:
- Nine children (64%) exhibited idiopathic Ménière's disease, with symptoms arising without a clear cause.
- Five children (36%) had secondary Ménière's syndrome, developing the triad after initial hearing loss due to mumps, meningitis, temporal bone fracture, or congenital ear issues.
- These 14 cases represented 1% of all diagnosed Ménière's disease (idiopathic or secondary) over five years at the collaborating centers.
Implications:
- This research highlights that Ménière's disease can manifest in children, albeit rarely.
- Identifying underlying causes in secondary Ménière's syndrome is crucial for potential management strategies.
- Further research is warranted to understand the etiology and long-term outcomes of pediatric Ménière's disease.
Abstract:
Fourteen children (aged 14 years or younger) with typical Ménière's triad with cochlear sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and intermittent vertigo attacks lasting from minutes to hours were investigated in four different neuro-otologic centers. Nine children, labeled as having "idiopathic Ménière's disease," developed the auditory and vestibular symptoms without any detectable causative factor. Five children, labeled as suffering from "secondary Ménière's syndrome," had histories of an initial hearing loss following mumps, hemophilus influenza meningitis, temporal bone fracture, or congenital or embryopathic complications in the ear that developed into the full Ménière's triad 5 to 11 years later. The 14 children represent 1% of all cases affected with idiopathic or secondary Ménière's disease (or syndrome) that have been detected during the past five years in the four collaborating centers.