title: Vertigo/dizziness in pediatric emergency department: Five years' experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vertigo/Dizziness in childhood is not a rare cause of visits to the emergency department (ED). We analyzed a selected group with vertigo/dizziness to identify signs and symptoms that may help to guide the diagnostic approach and management.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 616 children admitted for vertigo to the ED over a five-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Their medical history, clinical characteristics, laboratory and neuroimaging tests, final diagnoses and management were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Migraine and syncope were the most frequent causes. Two patients were affected by life-threatening cardiac syncope, while structural life-threatening central nervous system diseases were found in 15 patients, none of whom presented with vertigo as an isolated clinical finding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most cases of vertigo/dizziness in childhood that consist mainly of migraine and syncope are of benign origin. The prompt identification of neurological or cardiological signs or symptoms associated with vertigo in children is mandatory to rule out life-threatening conditions.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Pediatric Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Raucci
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Health Promotion, National Institute of Health, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vanacore
authors.affiliation: Chair of Pediatrics, NESMOS Department, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, c/o Sant'Andrea Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Paolino
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics (DPUO), University of Rome Tor Vergata, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Italy.
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silenzi
authors.affiliation: Emergency Pediatric Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.affiliation: Chair of Pediatrics, NESMOS Department, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, c/o Sant'Andrea Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urbano
authors.affiliation: Emergency Pediatric Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reale
authors.affiliation: Chair of Pediatrics, NESMOS Department, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, c/o Sant'Andrea Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.affiliation: Chair of Pediatrics, NESMOS Department, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, c/o Sant'Andrea Hospital, Italy pasquale.parisi@uniroma1.it parpas@iol.it.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parisi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013575:Syncope / Q000150:complications; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Vertigo; child; dizziness; emergency; headache; migraine