Dizziness
Dizziness is a relatively common condition in the emergency setting. Patient descriptions of their symptoms can be vague and inconsistent. This review highlights the most important aspects of the history and physical examination that can help differentiate among different causes of dizziness. In addition, it covers the pathophysiology of inner ear disease, including diagrams of vestibular anatomy. For the history, it is critical to capture dizziness, duration, triggers for dizziness, and associated symptoms. For the physical examination, a focused neurologic assessment is important, including balance, coordination, as well as an oculomotor assessment. For treatment of benign positional vertigo, various canalith repositioning maneuvers are described and diagrams shown. For vestibular neuritis, treatment options including vestibular rehabilitation and steroids are discussed. Finally, medical options for symptomatic therapy are listed. Key words: Dizziness, benign positional vertigo, canalith repositioning maneuver, vestibular disorders. This review contains 7 highly rendered figures, 7 tables, and 40 references.