Mal de Debarquement Syndrome: A Rare Entity—A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MDS) is a rare, understudied, underdiagnosed, and self-limiting condition. Etiology and incidence are unknown. It is characterized by abnormal sensation of motion/balance reported after travel by air, land, and sea; being reexposed to motion/activity relieves it. Sympto...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Veronica Nwagwu, Rakesh Patel, Jerome Okudo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Otolaryngology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/918475
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Summary:Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MDS) is a rare, understudied, underdiagnosed, and self-limiting condition. Etiology and incidence are unknown. It is characterized by abnormal sensation of motion/balance reported after travel by air, land, and sea; being reexposed to motion/activity relieves it. Symptoms may last from minutes to years. Workup though required reveals no findings; it is a diagnosis of exclusion. While no efficacious treatment exists, amitriptyline and benzodiazepines as well as supportive therapy have proved to be useful. We have described a 40-year-old Caucasian female who presented for the evaluation of persistent rocking and swaying sensation after a ship cruise which lasted for one week. Patient was treated with benzodiazepines after extensive workup and is now stable. A high index of suspicion is required to make a diagnosis.
ISSN:2090-6765
2090-6773