Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dizziness and Vertigo

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Acute Pediatric Neurology

  • 2509 Accesses

Abstract

Dizziness is not an uncommon presentation for acute pediatric care and accounts for 4–5 % of assessments in emergency departments and walk-in clinics. The cause may be part of an acute medical condition but is formally approached as vertigo, presyncope, or light-headedness.

As presenting symptoms, dizziness and vertigo can represent the nonserious to serious conditions—a focused medical history with attention to associated aural, ocular, and neurological symptoms is important. Bedside testing for vestibular function with appropriate laboratory investigations and diagnostic imaging will lead to accurate diagnosis and management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Salami A, Dellepiane M, Mora R, Taborelli G, Jankowska B. Electronystagmography finding in children with peripheral and central vestibular disorders. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2006;70:13–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Humphriss RL, Hall AJ. Dizziness in 10 year old children: an epidemiological study. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2011;75:395–400.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Niemensivu R, Pyykkö I, Wiener-Vacher SR, Kentala E. Vertigo and balance problems in children—an epidemiologic study in Finland. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2006;70:259–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Newman-Toker DE, Cannon LM, Stofferahn ME, et al. Imprecision in patient reports of dizziness symptom quality: a cross-sectional study conducted in a acute care setting. Mayo Clin Proc. 2007;82(11):1329–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Newman-Toker DE, Hsieh YH, Camargo Jr CA, et al. Spectrum of dizziness visits to US emergency departments: cross-sectional analysis from a nationally representative sample. Mayo Clin Proc. 2008;83(7):765–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kerber KA, Meurer WJ, West BT, Fendrick AM. Dizziness presentations in US emergency departments, 1995–2004. Acad Emerg Med. 2008;15:744–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. MacGregor D. Vertigo. Pediatr Rev. 2002;23(1):10–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Neuhauser HK, von Brevern M, Radtke A, et al. Epidemiology of vestibular vertigo a neurologic survey of the general population. Neurology. 2005;65:898–904.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Balatsouras DG, Kaberos A, Assimakopoulos D, Katotomichelakis M, et al. Etiology of vertigo children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2007;71:487–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Prepageran N, Kisilevsky V, Tomlinson D, Ranalli P, Rutka J. Symptomatic high frequency/acceleration vestibular loss: consideration of a new clinical syndrome of vestibular dysfunction. Acta Otolaryngol. 2005;125:48–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Miyamoto RC, Miyamoto RT. Pediatric neurology. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2003;10(12):298–303.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Spinou C. Investigation of a dizzy child. Acta Paediatr. 2007;96:457–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ravid S, Bienkowski R, Eviatar L. A simplified diagnosis approach to dizziness in children. Pediatr Neurol. 2003;29:317–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Tusa RJ, Gore R. Dizziness and vertigo: emergencies and management. Neurol. Clin. 2012;30:61–74.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Weiss AH, Phillips JO. Congenital and compensated vestibular dysfunction in childhood: an overlooked entity. J Child Neurol. 2006;21:572–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Fife TD, Tusa RJ, Furman JM, Zee DS, Frohman E, et al. Assessment: vestibular testing techniques in adults and children. Report of the therapeutics and technology assessment subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2000;55:1431–41.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Nuti D, Mandalà DN, Broman AT, Zee DS. Acute vestibular neuritis: prognosis based upon bedside clinical tests (thrusts and heaves). Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005;1039:359–67.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Mandalà M, Nuti D, Broman AT, Zee DS. Effectiveness of careful bedside examination in assessment, diagnosis, and prognosis of vestibular neuritis. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008;134(2):164–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Bhattacharyya N, Baugh RF, Orvidas L, et al. Clinical practice guideline: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008;139:S47–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Choung YH, Shin YR, Kahng H, Park K, Choi SJ. ‘Bow and lean test’ to determine the affected ear of horizontal canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Laryngoscope. 2006;116:1776–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. O’Reilly RC, Greywoode J, Morlet T, et al. Comprehensive vestibular and balance testing in the dizzy pediatric population. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010;144(2):142–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Niemensivu R, Pyykkö I, Valanne L, Kentala E. Value of imaging studies in vertiginous children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2006;70:1639–44.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ralli G, Atturo F, de Filippis C. Idiopathic benign paroxysmal vertigo in children, a migraine precursor. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2009;73S:S16–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Ergul Y, Ekici B, Tastan Y, Sezer T, Uysal S. Vestibular neuritis caused by enteroviral infection. Pediatr Neurol. 2006;34:45–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Strupp M, Zingler VC, Arbusow V, et al. Methylprednisolone, valacyclovir, or the combination for vestibular neuritis. N Engl J Med. 2004;351:354–61.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Cuvellier JC, Lépine A. Childhood periodic syncope. Pediatr Neurol. 2010;42:1–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Lewis DW, Pearlman E. The migraine variants. Pediatr Ann. 2005;34:486–97.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Maione A. Migraine-related vertigo: diagnostic criteria and prophylactic treatment. Laryngoscope. 2006;116:1782–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Nicita F, Papetti L, Spalice A, et al. Epileptic nystagmus: description of a pediatric case with EEG correlation and SPECT findings. J Neurol Sci. 2010;298:127–31.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Longin E, Reinhard J, von Buch C, Gerstner T, Lenz T, König S. Autonomic function in children and adolescents with neurocardiogenic syncope. Pediatr Cardiol. 2008;29:763–70.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Stewart JM, LcLeod KJ, Sanjukta S, Herzberg G, Montgomery LD. Relation of postural vasovagal syncope to splanchnic hypervolemia in adolescents. Circulation. 2004;110:2575–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Lai CC, Fischer PR, Brands CK, et al. Outcomes in adolescents with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome treated with midodrine and β-blockers. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2009;32:234–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Phillips JS, Fitzgerald JE, Bath AP. The role of the vestibular assessment. J Laryngol Otol. 2009;123:1212–15.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Daune L. MacGregor MD, DCH, PBDM, FRCP(C)

  2. Department of Paediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland

    Maja Steinlin MD

Authors
  1. Daune L. MacGregor MD, DCH, PBDM, FRCP(C)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maja Steinlin MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daune L. MacGregor MD, DCH, PBDM, FRCP(C) .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Neurology, Astrid Lindgrens Barnsjukhus, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    Thomas Sejersen

  2. Department of Pediatric Neurology, Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA

    Ching H. Wang

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer-Verlag London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

MacGregor, D.L., Steinlin, M. (2014). Dizziness and Vertigo. In: Sejersen, T., Wang, C. (eds) Acute Pediatric Neurology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-491-3_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-491-3_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-490-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-491-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation