| Abstrakt: |
Differentiate dizziness from true vertigo (sensation of movement) and other terms that are used by the patient, because the description by the patients can be nonspecific, many times, for example,"lightheadedness," "faint" or "giddiness" is vertigo and vice versa.Sudden onset of vertigo is due to asymmetry of vestibular system dysfunction.Approximately half of patients presenting with dizziness have true vertigo.Establish the onset of problem, and whether it is acute, subacute, or chronic.Vertigo is usually paroxysmal. Constant vertigo suggests psychogenic and not vestibular dysfunction. Chronic conditions such as acoustic neuroma rarely present with vertigo.Aggravating factors can be head or body position.Benign positional vertigo accounts for about half of all cases of vertigo.Associated symptoms: nausea, vomiting, fullness of ears, hearing loss, tinnitus, all of which suggest otological etiologies; headaches, diplopia, blurred vision, ataxia, paresthesia, all suggestive of central nervous system (CNS) etiologies.History of recent ear or upper respiratory infection or head trauma.History of drug regimen or drug overdose.History of depression or other psychiatric problems.Vertigo that is provoked by exertion, loud noise, sneezing, or coughing (Tullio's phenomenon) is suggestive of perilymphatic fistula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
