Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Neurology
An approach to the dizzy patient
Abstract
Dizziness is common, yet it is a complaint that causes anxiety for both the patient and doctor. A diagnosis can usually be made clinically on the basis of the history and examination and, contrary to popular belief, almost all patients can be cured or helped substantially.
Key Points
- With a careful history and examination, a diagnosis can be made for most patients with vertigo. Key points of the examination include the head impulse test and the Dix-Hallpike test.
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause of dizziness. Most cases eventually remit spontaneously, but treatment with particle repositioning manoeuvres is very effective.
- Migraine-related vertigo is an underdiagnosed cause of recurrent vertigo without auditory symptoms, especially in young patients who are otherwise healthy.
- Remember that although panic attacks can certainly cause dizziness, all patients with organic vertigo experience some degree of anxiety. Reassurance and a clear explanation go a long way in treating the anxiety component.
- The patient with a single severe attack of vertigo should not be diagnosed with ‘a middle ear infection’. Middle ear pathology without a lesion of the inner ear never causes dizziness; the patient might have had a cerebellar infarct or haemorrhage.
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