With recognition of early hydrops through increased use of both first-trimester dating ultrasound and routine ultrasound screening at 18–22 weeks, the incidence may be higher. Finnish data from women undergoing routine anomaly screening at 20 weeks’ gestation gives an incidence of 1 in 1700.

Mirror syndrome is a manifestation of extremely severe fetal hydrops. When the specific cause of fetal hydrops cannot be identified and corrected, immediate delivery is necessary in order to avoid fetal death and maternal complications.

What is hydrops fetalis? Hydrops fetalis is a serious, life-threatening condition in which a fetus or newborn has an abnormal buildup of fluids in the tissue around the lungs, heart, or abdomen, or under the skin.

Thirty (5.5%) and 35 (2.8%) cases of hydrops were found in the groups of fetal and neonatal autopsies, respectively. Genetic causes accounted for 35%. A careful search for previously reported genetic causes of fetal hydrops indicated 64 different etiologies.

Treatment of hydrops depends on the cause. During pregnancy, hydrops may be treatable only in certain cases. You may need to deliver your baby early.

Immune hydrops fetalis is most often a complication of a severe form of Rh incompatibility, which can be prevented.

This condition may be misdiagnosed as pre-eclampsia. However it is a separate clinical entity with case reports of the maternal condition improving with resolution of the hydrops in-utero. In most cases however, such “mirror syndrome” cases warrant prompt delivery in the maternal interest.

Endolymphatic hydrops may occur as a result of trauma such as a blow to the head, infection, degeneration of the inner ear, allergies, dehydration and loss of electrolytes or in rare circumstances a benign tumor. In many cases, it is not clear what causes the disorder.

Meniere’s disease is an inner-ear condition that can cause vertigo, a specific type of dizziness in which you feel as though you’re spinning. It also can cause ringing in your ear (tinnitus), hearing loss that comes and goes, and a feeling of fullness or pressure in your ear. Usually, only one ear is affected.

Drink lots of water – This may sound counterproductive as Meniere’s is the result of too much fluid in the inner ear. However, if the cause of Meniere’s has to do with a virus, a pathogen, or a bacteria, drinking lots of water can flush these things out of the body.

Avoid eating foods or fluids which have a high salt content. High salt intake results in fluctuations in the inner ear fluid pressure and may increase your symptoms. Aim for a diet high in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and low in canned, frozen or processed foods.

Pick up a banana To replenish blood glucose, low levels of which can cause dizziness.

There is no cure for Ménière’s disease. Once the condition is diagnosed, it will remain for life. However, the symptoms typically come and go, and only some people with Ménière’s disease will go on to develop permanent disabilities.

Vitamin D supplementation may improve symptoms in Meniere’s disease.

Surgery is usually only a treatment option for Meniere’s disease when all other treatments haven’t worked. Surgery is primarily used to eliminate debilitating episodes of vertigo. Surgery options include decompressing fluid in the inner ear or cutting a nerve to permanently cure episodes of vertigo.

Some herbs, such as ginger root and ginkgo biloba , may provide relief from vertigo symptoms in some people. However, according to the NIDCD, no evidence supports using herbal supplements, acupuncture, or acupressure to treat Ménière’s.

Hearing loss in Meniere’s disease may come and go, particularly early on. Eventually, most people have some permanent hearing loss.

Although it can be troublesome, Meniere’s disease is not contagious , and it isn’t fatal. Meniere’s disease is a chronic (ongoing) problem. People who have Meniere’s disease don’t have symptoms all the time. When symptoms occur, it’s called an “attack.” Attacks may happen often or just sometimes.

[45] Acute vestibular labyrinthitis or neuronitis may also mimic the attacks of Meniere’s disease. However, the episodes in the latter case are usually shorter and are also associated with auditory symptoms.

The SSA lists Meniere’s disease in their Blue Book, meaning it’s considered as one of the conditions considered serious enough to qualify a person for Social Security Disability.

Meniere’s disease has phases: an aura, the early stage, attack stage, and in-between. There is also the late-stage of Meniere’s disease.

A test called an electronystagmogram (ENG), which measures your eye movements. This can help the doctor find where the problem is that’s causing vertigo. Imaging tests such as an MRI or CT scan of the head. These tests can find out if the symptoms are caused by a brain problem.

If you are a driver, you must stop driving if Ménière’s disease is diagnosed and you must tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). This is because you may have sudden attacks of vertigo, or even drop attacks, with little warning. The DVLA will permit driving again if there is good control of symptoms.

But lifestyle changes—quitting smoking, adopting a low-salt diet, avoiding monosodium glutamate (MSG), limiting caffeine, doing balance exercises, reducing stress—and some drugs help treat symptoms and may reduce the number of future attacks.

Foods to avoid include:

• Most canned foods, unless the label says low or no sodium.
• Processed foods, such as cured or smoked meats, bacon, hot dogs, sausage, bologna, ham, and salami.
• Packaged foods such as macaroni and cheese and rice mixes.
• Anchovies, olives, pickles, and sauerkraut.
• Soy and Worcestershire sauces.

The pattern of exacerbation and remission makes evaluation of prognosis difficult. In general, the condition tends to spontaneously stabilize over time and it is said to “burn out.” The spontaneous remission rate is high with over 50% experiencing this within 2 years, and over 70% after 8 years.

Meniere disease is generally defined as the idiopathic syndrome of endolymphatic hydrops, whereas the term Meniere syndrome is generally used for patients with the same clinical features but who have an identified cause.

A diagnosis of Meniere’s disease requires: Two episodes of vertigo, each lasting 20 minutes or longer but not longer than 12 hours. Hearing loss verified by a hearing test. Tinnitus or a feeling of fullness in your ear.