Ménière’s made the mainstream news last month.

Did you see the three-part factual drama Dirty Business on Channel 4? It follows a decade-long investigation into England’s water companies and the sewage being discharged into our rivers and seas.

In episode three we meet Reuben Santer, a surfer who developed Ménière’s disease after swimming in polluted water in Exeter. It’s thought he may have picked up a bacterial infection in the ear — possibly something like E. coli.

It might sound surprising, but infections can absolutely play a role in triggering Ménière’s.

In some people, an infection in the ear — or even elsewhere in the body — can kick off an inflammatory response that affects the inner ear. Over time, chronic infections can drive chronic inflammation, which may eventually damage the delicate structures involved in balance and hearing.

I see this quite often in clinic. Sometimes it’s linked to ongoing gut infections such as E. coli, H. pylori or SIBO. In other cases it’s viral infections like herpes viruses that have never been properly resolved.

The good news is that when we identify the root cause, supporting the immune system and improving gut health can often help bring those infections back under control — and with it, the Ménière’s symptoms.

If you suspect your Ménière’s may have been triggered after swimming or surfing in polluted water, it’s worth giving your immune system a bit of extra support to help clear any lingering infection.

You can read more about the programme and watch it here:
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/dirty-business

https://www.sas.org.uk/updates/dirty-business-real-people-sewage-drama/

Big love,
Laura x