Vertigo resident survival guide (pediatrics)

Vertigo resident survival guide (pediatrics) Microchapters
Overview
Causes
FIRE
Diagnosis
Treatment
Do's
Don'ts

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]: Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

Overview

Vertigo can be described as subjection sensation of movement such as spinning, turning or whirling of patients or respective surroundings. Vertigo is a symptom not a diagnosis. It results from dysfunction either in the vestibular or central nervous system ; thus can be classified as peripheral or central vertigo respectively. Some conditions can present with subjective feeling of dizziness without vertigo hence named as pseudo-vertigo. Most children or adolescents have secondary vertigo as a result of various conditions such as otitis media, benign paroxysmal vertigo, head trauma or any CNS infection. Successful management of vertigo usually consists of identifying the root cause and specifically targeting the underlying condition.

Causes

Life-Threatening Causes	Common	Misc.
Head trauma (labyrinthine concussion, whiplash syndrome, basilar artery migraine) CNS infection Intake of specific Poison Drug Adverse Effect Stroke Brain tumor Congenital ear abnormalities (Mondini's malformation, enlarged vestibular aqueduct)	Binocular vision abnormalities Benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood Vestibular neuritis Migraine Somatoform vertigo   Motion sickness Otitis media complicated by labyrinthitis	Mastoiditis Meniere disease Middle ear trauma Multiple sclerosis Perilymph fistula Ramsay Hunt syndrome Seizure

FIRE: Focused Initial Rapid Evaluation

Identify cardinal findings that increase the pretest probability of vertigo (at least 2 of the following) ❑ Physical sensation of spinning or moving ❑ Nystagmus ❑ Nausea with or without vomiting

Yes

No

History of Head Trauma

Pseudovertigo

Findings of Abnormal CT-Scan/MRI

Altered level of Consciousness

Complete Diagnostic Approach

Treatment

Do's

Don'ts