Vertigo
Original Editor - Lucinda hampton
Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton, Kim Jackson and Uchechukwu Chukwuemeka
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Vertigo is a type of dizziness that is often described as feeling that you are spinning or that the world is spinning around you, particularly if you change position.[1] Vertigo affects all ages. In younger patients, middle ear pathology is most often the cause. In the elderly, specific assessment is needed due to the risk of falls and their complications. The key to arriving at the diagnosis is to differentiate vertigo from other causes of dizziness or imbalance and distinguish central from peripheral causes of vertigo. [2]
Etiology[edit | edit source]
Vertigo is most often caused by a dysfunction in the vestibular system from a peripheral or central lesion.
- Peripheral etiologies include the more common causes of vertigo, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and Ménière disease. BPPV results from calcium deposits or debris in the posterior semicircular canal and causes frequent transient episodes of vertigo lasting a few minutes or less.
- Central etiologies of vertigo should always be considered in the differential. Ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes (particularly involving the cerebellum or vertebrobasilar system), are life-threatening. Other central causes include: Tumors: Vestibular migraines (common central cause of vertigo); multiple sclerosis has been associated with both central and peripheral causes of vertigo. Centrally, multiple sclerosis can cause vertigo with the development of demyelinating plaques in the vestibular pathways, BPPV is a common peripheral cause of vertigo in patients with multiple sclerosis.
- Other causes can lead to vertigo eg medication-induced vertigo and psychologic disorders, including mood, anxiety, and somatization[2].
Epidemiology[edit | edit source]
Vertigo affects both men and women but is about two to three times more common in women than men. It has been associated with various comorbid conditions eg depression and cardiovascular disease. Prevalence increases with age and varies depending on the underlying diagnosis. Based on a survey of the general population, the 1-year prevalence of vertigo is about 5% and an annual incidence of 1.4%. [2]
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Health Direct Vertigo Available:https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/vertigo (accessed 24.8.2021)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Stanton M, Freeman AM. Vertigo. Updated: 4/28/2021 Available:https://www.statpearls.com/articlelibrary/viewarticle/31130/ (accessed 24.8.2021)
