title: Vertigo in children and adolescents: characteristics and outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the characteristics and outcome of vertigo in a pediatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  All children and adolescents presenting with vertigo to a tertiary otoneurology clinic between the years 2003-2010 were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven patients with a mean age of 14 years were evaluated. The most common etiology was migraine-associated vertigo (MAV) followed by acute labyrinthitis/neuritis and psychogenic dizziness. Ten patients (27%) had pathological findings on the otoneurological examination. Abnormal findings were documented in sixteen of the twenty-three (70%) completed electronystagmography evaluations. Twenty patients (54%) were referred to treatment by other disciplines than otology/otoneurology. A follow-up questionnaire was filled by twenty six (70%) of the study participants. While all patients diagnosed with MAV had continuous symptoms, most other patients had complete resolution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Various etiologies of vertigo may present with similar symptoms and signs in the pediatric patient. Yet, variable clinical courses should be anticipated, depending on the specific etiology. This is the reason why treatment and follow up should be specifically tailored for each case according to the diagnosis. Close collaboration with other medical disciplines is often required to reach the correct diagnosis and treatment while avoiding unnecessary laboratory examinations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa 34362, Israel.
authors.forename: Maayan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: Raanan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cohen-Kerem
authors.forename: Margalit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaminer
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shupak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007762:Labyrinthitis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications; D009443:Neuritis / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult