Etiology of vertigo in children.
OBJECTIVE
To detect the most common causes of vertigo in children.


METHODS
Fifty-four children (20 boys and 34 girls) aged 3-16 years, who presented with vertigo attacks during a 3-year period, were studied. A detailed medical history for vestibular symptoms and migraine was obtained from our patients or their parents. All patients underwent otolaryngologic, ophthalmologic and neurologic clinical evaluation. A detailed laboratory examination, including serologic tests for viral infections, was also obtained. Additionally, a complete audiological and neurotologic evaluation was performed. Computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were obtained in selected cases.


RESULTS
Viral infections, benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood and migraine were the most common causes of vertigo accounting for approximately 65% of our patients. Otitis media, head trauma, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere's disease and brain tumor were less common causes of vertigo.


CONCLUSIONS
A peripheral type of vertigo was found in most cases. Diagnostic approach in vertigo in children should include a detailed history and clinical examination in conjunction with a test battery of audiological and neurotologic tests. When a central cause of vertigo is suspected an MRI or CT scan should be ordered.
Balatsouras
Dimitrios G
DG
ENT Department of Tzanion General Hospital, 11 Zani and Afentouli Street, GR-18536 Piraeus, and Ioannina University School of Medicine, Greece. balats@panafonet.gr
Kaberos
Antonis
A
Assimakopoulos
Dimitrios
D
Katotomichelakis
Michael
M
Economou
Nicolas C
NC
Korres
Stavros G
SG
D000293:Adolescent; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004584:Electronystagmography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology