Dizziness: a diagnostic approach. 2010

Robert E Post, and Lori M Dickerson
rpostmd@gmail.com

Dizziness accounts for an estimated 5 percent of primary care clinic visits. The patient history can generally classify dizziness into one of four categories: vertigo, disequilibrium, presyncope, or lightheadedness. The main causes of vertigo are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere disease, vestibular neuritis, and labyrinthitis. Many medications can cause presyncope, and regimens should be assessed in patients with this type of dizziness. Parkinson disease and diabetic neuropathy should be considered with the diagnosis of disequilibrium. Psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and hyperventilation syndrome, can cause vague lightheadedness. The differential diagnosis of dizziness can be narrowed with easy-to-perform physical examination tests, including evaluation for nystagmus, the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, and orthostatic blood pressure testing. Laboratory testing and radiography play little role in diagnosis. A final diagnosis is not obtained in about 20 percent of cases. Treatment of vertigo includes the Epley maneuver (canalith repositioning) and vestibular rehabilitation for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, intratympanic dexamethasone or gentamicin for Meniere disease, and steroids for vestibular neuritis. Orthostatic hypotension that causes presyncope can be treated with alpha agonists, mineralocorticoids, or lifestyle changes. Disequilibrium and lightheadedness can be alleviated by treating the underlying cause.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008487 Medical History Taking Acquiring information from a patient on past medical conditions and treatments. Medical History, Previous,Past Medical History, Family,Previous Medical History,Family Health History,Family History, Health,Family History, Medical,Family Medical History,History Taking, Medical,Family Health Histories,Family Medical Histories,Health Family Histories,Health Family History,Health History, Family,History, Previous Medical,Medical Family Histories,Medical Family History,Medical Histories, Previous,Medical History, Family,Previous Medical Histories
D010808 Physical Examination Systematic and thorough inspection of the patient for physical signs of disease or abnormality. Physical Exam,Examination, Physical,Physical Examinations and Diagnoses,Exam, Physical,Examinations, Physical,Exams, Physical,Physical Examinations,Physical Exams
D003937 Diagnosis, Differential Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D004244 Dizziness An imprecise term which may refer to a sense of spatial disorientation, motion of the environment, or lightheadedness. Lightheadedness,Orthostasis,Dizzyness,Light-Headedness,Light Headedness
D004856 Postural Balance A POSTURE in which an ideal body mass distribution is achieved. Postural balance provides the body carriage stability and conditions for normal functions in stationary position or in movement, such as sitting, standing, or walking. Postural Control,Posture Balance,Posture Control,Posture Equilibrium,Balance, Postural,Musculoskeletal Equilibrium,Postural Equilibrium,Balance, Posture,Control, Postural,Control, Posture,Equilibrium, Musculoskeletal,Equilibrium, Postural,Equilibrium, Posture,Postural Controls,Posture Balances,Posture Controls,Posture Equilibriums
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013575 Syncope A transient loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by diminished blood flow to the brain (i.e., BRAIN ISCHEMIA). Presyncope refers to the sensation of lightheadedness and loss of strength that precedes a syncopal event or accompanies an incomplete syncope. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp367-9) Drop Attack,Fainting,Presyncope,Syncope, Postural,Syncopal Episode,Syncopal Vertigo,Syncope, Cardiogenic,Syncope, Carotid Sinus,Syncope, Convulsive,Syncope, Deglutitional,Syncope, Effort,Syncope, Hyperventilation,Syncope, Micturition,Syncope, Situational,Syncope, Stokes-Adams,Syncope, Tussive,Attack, Drop,Cardiogenic Syncope,Cardiogenic Syncopes,Carotid Sinus Syncope,Carotid Sinus Syncopes,Convulsive Syncope,Convulsive Syncopes,Deglutitional Syncope,Deglutitional Syncopes,Drop Attacks,Effort Syncope,Effort Syncopes,Episode, Syncopal,Hyperventilation Syncope,Hyperventilation Syncopes,Micturition Syncope,Micturition Syncopes,Postural Syncope,Postural Syncopes,Presyncopes,Situational Syncope,Situational Syncopes,Stokes-Adams Syncope,Stokes-Adams Syncopes,Syncopal Episodes,Syncope, Stokes Adams,Syncopes,Syncopes, Cardiogenic,Syncopes, Carotid Sinus,Syncopes, Convulsive,Syncopes, Deglutitional,Syncopes, Effort,Syncopes, Hyperventilation,Syncopes, Micturition,Syncopes, Postural,Syncopes, Situational,Syncopes, Stokes-Adams,Syncopes, Tussive,Tussive Syncope,Tussive Syncopes,Vertigo, Syncopal,Vertigos, Syncopal
D014717 Vertigo An illusion of movement, either of the external world revolving around the individual or of the individual revolving in space. Vertigo may be associated with disorders of the inner ear (EAR, INNER); VESTIBULAR NERVE; BRAINSTEM; or CEREBRAL CORTEX. Lesions in the TEMPORAL LOBE and PARIETAL LOBE may be associated with FOCAL SEIZURES that may feature vertigo as an ictal manifestation. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp300-1) CNS Origin Vertigo,Central Nervous System Origin Vertigo,Positional Vertigo,Spinning Sensation,Vertigo, Brain Stem,Vertigo, Brainstem,Vertigo, Central Nervous System Origin,Vertigo, Central Origin,Vertigo, Constant,Vertigo, Essential,Vertigo, Intermittant,Vertigo, Paroxysmal,Vertigo, Peripheral,Vertigo, Subjective,Brain Stem Vertigo,Brain Stem Vertigos,Brainstem Vertigo,Brainstem Vertigos,CNS Origin Vertigos,Central Origin Vertigo,Central Origin Vertigos,Constant Vertigo,Constant Vertigos,Essential Vertigo,Essential Vertigos,Intermittant Vertigo,Intermittant Vertigos,Origin Vertigo, CNS,Origin Vertigo, Central,Origin Vertigos, CNS,Origin Vertigos, Central,Paroxysmal Vertigo,Paroxysmal Vertigos,Peripheral Vertigo,Peripheral Vertigos,Sensation, Spinning,Sensations, Spinning,Spinning Sensations,Subjective Vertigo,Subjective Vertigos,Vertigo, CNS Origin,Vertigo, Positional,Vertigos,Vertigos, Brain Stem,Vertigos, Brainstem,Vertigos, CNS Origin,Vertigos, Central Origin,Vertigos, Constant,Vertigos, Essential,Vertigos, Intermittant,Vertigos, Paroxysmal,Vertigos, Peripheral,Vertigos, Subjective

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