What are the Causes of Mal de Débarquement Syndrome?
Classic MdDS is due to a journey by ship, airplane, or car. Spontaneous MdDS is due to childbirth, trauma, or surgery, or any other stress-related condition.
Other forms of motion, enlisted below, may also contribute to MdDS.
- Virtual reality video games (e.g. Nintendo)
- Rides at fun fairs or theme parks
- Sleeping on airbeds
- Flickering lights
- Aisles in grocery stores
- Very rapid movements
What are the Symptoms and Signs of Mal de Débarquement Syndrome?
The main symptoms and signs of MdDS are:
- Bobbing
- Swaying
- Rocking
- Feeling of unsteadiness
- Exhaustion
- Fear of movement
- Difficulty understanding (cognitive deficiency)
- Unstable posture
- Limited coordination of limbs
Other symptoms that may be associated but have not been commonly recorded in all MdDS patients are:
- Headache
- Changes in vision (blurring or jumping vision)
- Nausea
- Numbness in feet or lower legs
- Vomiting sensation
- Ear symptoms
- Fuzziness in the head
- Tingling sensation
- Vertigo
Persistent MdDS is rare and the exact reason for the persistence of symptoms is not clear. It is also unclear how the symptoms are generated in the body. The vestibulo-ocular reflex (originates from the vestibular system in the inner ear and controls balance and eye stabilization during head movement) may not adjust well to motion and hence, vision and balance get affected. The exact nerve signals that control the symptoms are unclear.
