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Continuum (Minneapolis, Minn.) Apr 2021This article reviews a method of obtaining the medical history of patients presenting with dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance. By combining elements of the history with... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This article reviews a method of obtaining the medical history of patients presenting with dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance. By combining elements of the history with examination, the goal is to identify patterns and an effective differential diagnosis for this group of patients to help lead to an accurate diagnosis.
RECENT FINDINGS
Studies over the past dozen years have changed the historical approach to patients with dizziness from one based primarily on how the patient describes the sensation of dizziness. This older approach can lead to misdiagnosis, so a preferred method puts greater emphasis on whether the dizziness is acute or chronic, episodic or continuous, or evoked by or brought on by an event or circumstance so that a pattern may be derived that better narrows the differential diagnosis and focused examination can further narrow to a cause or causes.
SUMMARY
Dizziness is a common symptom of many possible causes. This article will help clinicians navigate gathering the history and examination to formulate a working diagnosis in patients affected by dizziness.
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Dizziness; Humans; Vertigo
PubMed: 34351108
DOI: 10.1212/CON.0000000000000938 -
The Journal of Laryngology and Otology Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Dizziness; Postural Balance; Vestibular Diseases; Vertigo
PubMed: 38779892
DOI: 10.1017/S0022215123002335 -
The Nurse Practitioner Oct 2019Dizziness is a common patient complaint with multiple etiologies. Many causes are benign, but NPs should consider red flags for serious differential diagnoses. A... (Review)
Review
Dizziness is a common patient complaint with multiple etiologies. Many causes are benign, but NPs should consider red flags for serious differential diagnoses. A systematic patient history and physical exam are crucial to accurately diagnosing conditions related to dizziness. This article reviews common etiologies of dizziness and vertigo, assessment techniques, and treatment options.
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Dizziness; Humans; Nurse Practitioners; Nursing Assessment; Vertigo
PubMed: 31568028
DOI: 10.1097/01.NPR.0000579744.73514.4b -
Seminars in Neurology Dec 1987
Review
Topics: Dizziness; Eye Movements; Humans; Labyrinth Diseases; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular; Vertigo; Vestibule, Labyrinth
PubMed: 3332466
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1041433 -
Annals of Emergency Medicine Apr 2023
Topics: Male; Humans; Dizziness; Vertigo; Diagnosis, Differential
PubMed: 36948686
DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2022.10.007 -
Neurology May 1997
Review
Topics: Dizziness; Humans; Motion Perception; Phobic Disorders; Posture; Psychophysiologic Disorders; Space Perception; Terminology as Topic; Vertigo; Vestibular Diseases
PubMed: 9153437
DOI: 10.1212/wnl.48.5.1161 -
MMW Fortschritte Der Medizin Apr 2018
Review
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Dizziness; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neurologic Examination; Vertigo
PubMed: 29619695
DOI: 10.1007/s15006-018-0380-9 -
Handbook of Clinical Neurology 2016Traumatic brain injury is an increasingly common public health issue, with the mild variant most clinically relevant for this chapter. Common causes of mild traumatic... (Review)
Review
Traumatic brain injury is an increasingly common public health issue, with the mild variant most clinically relevant for this chapter. Common causes of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) include motor vehicle accidents, athletics, and military training/deployment. Despite a range of clinically available testing platforms, diagnosis of mTBI remains challenging. Symptoms are primarily neurosensory, and include dizziness, hearing problems, headaches, cognitive, and sleep disturbances. Dizziness is nearly universally present in all mTBI patients, and is the easiest symptom to objectify for diagnosis. Aside from a thorough history and physical exam, in the near future specialized vestibular function tests will be key to mTBI diagnosis. A battery of oculomotor (antisaccade, predictive saccade) and vestibular tasks (head impulse test) has been demonstrated to sensitively and specifically identify individuals with acute mTBI. Vestibular therapy and rehabilitation have shown improvements for mTBI patients in cognitive function, ability to return to activities of daily living, and ability to return to work. Dizziness, as a contributor to short- and long-term disability following mTBI, is ultimately crucial not only for diagnosis but also for treatment.
Topics: Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Dizziness; Eye Movement Measurements; Humans; Vertigo; Vestibular Function Tests
PubMed: 27638079
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-444-63437-5.00021-2 -
Current Opinion in Neurology Feb 2015Vertigo and dizziness occur with considerable frequency in childhood and adolescence. Most causes are benign and treatable. This review aims to make physicians more... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Vertigo and dizziness occur with considerable frequency in childhood and adolescence. Most causes are benign and treatable. This review aims to make physicians more alert to the frequent causes of dizziness in the young.
RECENT FINDINGS
Epidemiological data confirm that migraine-related syndromes are the most common cause of vertigo in children. Vestibular migraine and benign paroxysmal vertigo have now been defined by the International Classification of Headache Disorders. About half of the adolescents with vertigo and dizziness show psychiatric comorbidity and somatization. Vestibular paroxysmia has been described as a new entity in children that can be treated with low doses of carbamazepine. To assess vestibular deficits, video head impulses (for the semicircular canals) and vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (for the otoliths) are increasingly being used.
SUMMARY
Pediatricians and neuro-otologists should be aware of the full spectrum of causes of vertigo and dizziness in children and adolescents. Vestibular function can reliably be tested nowadays. Although treatment for the common migraine-related syndromes can be done in analogy to the treatment of migraine in general, specific approaches are required for somatoform vertigo, the most frequent diagnosis in adolescent girls.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Dizziness; Humans; Migraine Disorders; Vertigo
PubMed: 25502049
DOI: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000000157 -
Academic Emergency Medicine : Official... May 2023
Review
Topics: Humans; Dizziness; Vertigo; Malpractice; Central Nervous System
PubMed: 36354754
DOI: 10.1111/acem.14627