Which symptom combination is most characteristic of Meniere's disease?

• A. Vertigo, tinnitus, and fluctuating hearing loss
• B. Severe headache and neck stiffness
• C. Visual neglect
• D. Chronic cough

Answer: (A)

Meniere's disease presents with episodes of vertigo accompanied by fluctuating hearing loss and tinnitus in the affected ear. The vertigo is a true spinning sensation that can last from minutes to hours, and the hearing loss tends to vary between episodes, often with a sense of fullness in the ear. This combination reflects disturbance in inner ear fluid balance (endolymphatic hydrops) that disrupts both the vestibular system (causing vertigo) and the cochlea (causing hearing loss and tinnitus).

The other options point to different conditions: severe headache with neck stiffness suggests meningitis or subarachnoid pathology; visual neglect indicates a brain hemisphere injury; chronic cough is typically related to respiratory issues. So the triad of vertigo, tinnitus, and fluctuating hearing loss best fits Meniere's disease.