About this episode
Author: Peter Bakes, MD Educational Pearls: Important to find out if patients mean dysequilibrium, lightheadedness, or vertigo when patients say they are "dizzy." Differentiate central vs. peripheral vertigo Central vertigo typically present with bulbar syndromes (difficulty swallowing, facial nerve palsy) and cerebellar symptoms (ataxia). Peripheral vertigo typically present with sudden onset vertigo with nausea and vomiting in the absence of bulbar symptoms. Episodic? BPPV or Meniere's Disease. BPPV has not auditory symptoms and is associated with head position; Meniere's has hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear fullness. Constant? Neuronitis has no auditory symptoms, while labyrinthitis has associated hearing loss/tinnitus and is associated with a recent infection (OM). References Baloh RW. Differentiating between peripheral and central causes of vertigo. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1998; 119:55. Chase M, Goldstein JN, Selim MH, et al. A prospective pilot study of predictors of acute stroke in emergency department patients with dizziness. Mayo Clin Proc 2014; 89:173. Kerber KA, Brown DL, Lisabeth LD, et al. Stroke among patients with dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance in the emergency department: a population-based study. Stroke 2006; 37:2484.