A practical approach to the patient with vertigo: an outline of diagnosis and management for the nonspecialist.
A careful history is the most important part of a medical examination for vertigo, especially to establish whether it is acute, chronic or recurrent. If the patient spontaneously volunteers ear complaints, such as fullness, tinnitus, or hearing loss, the cause is probably otologic and deserves immediate referral. If no otologic complaints are volunteered, the whole body becomes a source of investigation. All nonvital drugs should be withheld while the vertigo study is progressing. A complete physical examination and blood profile should be carried out. Roentgenograms of the skull and chest should be obtained. Accurate diagnosis and proper management are possible only with prolonged follow-up. Unnecessary expense, inconvenience, and discomfort for the patient can be avoided by a screening audiogram to identify unilateral hearing loss. All unilateral hearing loss should be investigated thoroughly in order to diagnose serious retrocochlear disease early.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003501:Cyclizine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004584:Electronystagmography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008468:Meclizine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010808:Physical Examination; D012008:Recurrence; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests
D008468:Meclizine; D003501:Cyclizine