Dizziness Tags - Differential Diagnosis of https://ddxof.com/tag/dizziness/ A systematic approach to the evaluation and management of various complaints. Fri, 24 Jan 2020 21:45:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://ddxof.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cropped-ddxof@1x-1-32x32.png Dizziness Tags - Differential Diagnosis of https://ddxof.com/tag/dizziness/ 32 32 46076767 Dizziness and Vertigo https://ddxof.com/dizziness-and-vertigo/ Thu, 17 Sep 2015 01:56:01 +0000 http://ddxof.com/?p=1458 Types of Dizziness Distinguishing Central vs. Peripheral Vertigo Characteristic Peripheral Central Onset Sudden Gradual Intensity Severe Mild Duration Minutes Weeks Timing Intermittent Continuous Nystagmus Horizontal Vertical, bidirectional Exacerbation with head movement + – Auditory symptoms + – Neurological findings – + Causes of Vertigo Characteristics of common causes of vertigo Cause Mechanism Onset Symptoms Findings... Continue reading →

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]]> Types of Dizziness

Types of Dizziness

Distinguishing Central vs. Peripheral Vertigo

Characteristic Peripheral Central
Onset Sudden Gradual
Intensity Severe Mild
Duration Minutes Weeks
Timing Intermittent Continuous
Nystagmus Horizontal Vertical, bidirectional
Exacerbation with head movement + –
Auditory symptoms + –
Neurological findings – +

Causes of Vertigo

Causes of Vertigo

Characteristics of common causes of vertigo

Cause Mechanism Onset Symptoms Findings
Peripheral
BPPV Otolith Brief, positional episodes Nausea, vomiting, absent auditory symptoms. Dix-Hallpike positive
Vestibular neuronitis Viral, post-viral inflammation of vestibular portion of CNVIII Acute and severe, subsiding over days. Nausea, vomiting, absent auditory symptoms. Head thrust abnormal
Meniere Endolymphatic hydrops Recurrent, lasting hours Tinnitus, hearing loss. SNHL
Central
Vertebrobasilar insufficiency Atherosclerosis (vascular risk factors) Acute onset, recurrent episodes if TIA Headache, gait impairment, diplopia, absent auditory symptoms. Neurologic deficits
Cerebellar stroke Atherosclerosis (vascular risk factors) Acute and severe Headache, dysphagia, gait impairment Dysmetria, dysdiadochokinesia, ataxia, CN palsy
Brainstem stroke Atherosclerosis (vascular risk factors), dissection Acute and severe Dysphagia, dysphonia, gait impairment, sensory disturbances Loss of pain/temperature on ipsilateral face, contralateral body, palatal/pharyngeal paralysis
MS Demyelination Subacute onset History of other, variable symptoms INO

History

  • Onset, duration, timing, severity, exacerbating factors
  • Vascular risk factors: age, male, HTN, CAD, DM, atrial fibrillation
  • Vestibulotoxic medications: aminoglycosides, AED

Key Physical Examination Findings

  • VS: Presence of hypotension suggests presyncope
  • Head: Examine for evidence of trauma
  • Neck: Auscultate for carotid bruit
  • Ear: Effusion or perforation suggests peripheral process (possible perilymphatic fistula)
  • Eye: Examine for pupillary defects (CNIII), papilledema, extraoccular muscles
  • Neuro: Cerebellar testing

Positional Testing

Dix-Hallpike
Turn head 45°
Upright sitting → supine (head overhanging bed)
Positive: nystagmus + symptoms on one side
Roll
Supine
Turn head 90°
Positive: nystagmus + symptoms on both sides, more severe on affected

HINTS1

Normal head impulse, direction-changing nystagmus, or skew deviation suggests stroke.

Head impulse
Focus on examiner’s nose
Rapidly turn head 10° in horizontal plan
Presence of corrective saccade suggests defect of peripheral vestibular nerve
Nystagmus
Peripheral: Horizontal, unidirectional. Increases on gaze in direction of fast phase (decreases or resolves opposite)
Central: Direction changing
Skew deviation
Cross cover
Presence of vertical disconjugate gaze suggests brainstem dysfunction

HINTS Gallery

Labs

  • Glucose
  • CBC/Chemistry
  • ECG

Imaging

  • Warranted if findings concerning for central process
  • MRI preferred

Management

Specific etiologies
Vestibular neuronitis: steroids
Meniere: dietary changes
BPPV: canalith repositioning
Symptomatic relief
Promethazine (Phenergan) 12.5-25mg PO
Ondansetron (Zofran) 4mg IV
Lorazepam (Ativan) 1-2mg PO/IV
Meclizine (Antivert) 25mg PO q6-8h PRN

References

  1. Kattah, J. C., Talkad, A. V., Wang, D. Z., Hsieh, Y.-H., & Newman-Toker, D. E. (2009). HINTS to diagnose stroke in the acute vestibular syndrome: three-step bedside oculomotor examination more sensitive than early MRI diffusion-weighted imaging. Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation, 40(11), 3504–3510. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.109.551234
  2. Chang, A., & Olshaker, J. (2013). Dizziness and Vertigo. In Rosen’s Emergency Medicine – Concepts and Clinical Practice (8th ed., Vol. 1, pp. 162-169). Elsevier Health Sciences.

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