Prevalence of vestibular and balance disorders in children and adolescents according to age: A multi-center study.
OBJECTIVE
Children differ from adults in the expression of dizziness symptoms and the causes of dizziness. In several studies, benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood (BPVC) and vestibular migraine (VM) were seen exclusively in children with vertigo, but the age threshold used to define 'children' varies, and there are few reported studies about adolescents with dizziness. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of vestibular and balance disorders according to age category in a multi-center study (otolaryngology departments of 11 hospitals) of children and adolescents.


METHODS
Children and adolescents aged under 18 who visited the otolaryngology departments of 11 hospitals for dizziness were included. We classified the patients into three categories: preschool (up to and including 6-year-olds), school age (7- to 12-year-olds), and adolescents (13- to 18-year-olds). These patients were reviewed retrospectively based on their clinical charts.


RESULTS
In the preschool age group, BPVC was most common, followed by VM. In the school-age group, BPVC and VMs were most common, followed by psychogenic vertigo and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). In adolescents, VM was the most common, and Ménière's disease, cardiogenic vertigo, and BPVC, which are seen primarily in adults, were also seen in some adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
In children and adolescents with dizziness, VM and BPVC were the most common diseases, and prevalence of disease by age showed differing distributions. These findings will help in diagnosing and managing children and adolescents with vertigo.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Bucheon, South Korea.
Jong Dae
JD
Lee
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kunkook University, Seoul, South Korea.
Chang-Hee
CH
Kim
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hallym University College of Medicine, Hwaseong, South Korea. Electronic address: thecell20@gmail.com.
Seok Min
SM
Hong
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
Sung Huhn
SH
Kim
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Seoul University, Seoul, South Korea.
Myung-Whan
MW
Suh
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea.
Min-Beom
MB
Kim
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Myongji Hospital, Goyang, South Korea.
Dae Bo
DB
Shim
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hana ENT Hospital, South Korea.
Hosuk
H
Chu
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hana ENT Clinic, Seoul, South Korea.
No Hee
NH
Lee
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon, South Korea.
Minbum
M
Kim
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hallym University College of Medicine, Hwaseong, South Korea.
Sung Kwang
SK
Hong
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Catholic University, Bucheon, South Korea.
Jae-Hyun
JH
Seo
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D065635:Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004856:Postural Balance; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014717:Vertigo / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*
Adolescents; Children; Vertigo