title: Electronystagmography finding in children with peripheral and central vestibular disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dizziness and imbalance are uncommon in children, but often alarming for their families: a detailed interview and otoneurological examination are important for reaching a specific diagnosis and treatment. Children with vestibular disorders are thought to be difficult to examine: vestibular tests (caloric test, roto-acceleratory test, electronystagmography, opto-kinetic nystagmus, cranio-corpography and posturography) are used less frequently for children than in adult patients. The aim of the study was to determine whether the results of electronystagmography testing improve an emergency physician's diagnosis of dizziness in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were selected on the basis of the following inclusion criteria: aged between 2 and 12 years and affected with vertiginous symptoms. All patients underwent the following instrumental examinations: blood tests, audiological screening, electronystagmography of spontaneous nystagmus or provoked by vestibular and optical stimulation and electroencephalogram.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results underlines an high incidence of central vertigo (83%): 52% of the children presented a prevailing unidirectional nystagmus at labyrinth stimulation and 48% of the children an asymmetry in the response of nystagmus at optical kinetic stimulation with quality alteration of shocks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electronystagmography can register and evaluate the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the nystagmic response and allow to distinguish between central or peripheric vertigo: different degrees and various combinations of the abnormal responses shown in optokinetic central test were the most characteristic of electronystagmography in patients with vestibular central vertigo.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salami
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dellepiane
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taborelli
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jankowska
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004584:Electronystagmography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology