Acute Vertigo After COVID-19 Vaccination: Case Series and Literature Review

Objective: The aim of this study was to present some cases of acute vertigo potentially related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine and review the available literature about cochleovestibular dysfunction after the COVID-19 vaccination.Methods: In the period from May to July 2021, we evaluated 33 patients (mean age 54.3 ± 14.1) with “acute vertigo” post COVID-19 vaccination. A detailed medical history was taken on comorbidities, types of vaccines received, and symptoms associated. All patients underwent otoneurological evaluation, such as head impulse test, nystagmus evaluation, test of skew (HINTS) examination. Head shaking test-induced nystagmus, hyperventilation-induced nystagmus, and parossistic positional nystagmus were studied to search for vestibular impairment.Results: Symptoms included 16 patients (48.5%) with objective vertigo, 14 patients (42.4%) with subjective vertigo, and 3 patients (9.1%) with dizziness. Of the associated ear, nose, and throat (ENT) symptoms, the most expressed was tinnitus (18.2%). Bedside examination showed absent nystagmus in 7 patients (21.2%), 9 patients (27.3%) had horizontal or rotatory nystagmus, 17 patients (51.5%) had a vertical or oblique nystagmus, negative HST, or “central HINTS.”Discussion and Conclusions: The 9 patients had an evoked nystagmus pathognomonic for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; in the remaining 17 cases, peripheral vestibular dysfunction could be excluded and central disorder may be suggested. Due to the prevalence of nystagmus of non-peripheral origin, a central nervous system involvement could not be excluded. However, due to the small sample size, a definite cause–effect relationship between vaccination and vertigo cannot be inferred. In light of expected third dose, large-scale and well-designed studies are needed to better define possible adverse reactions of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Potential use of dimensionhydrinate/cinnarizine combination in the treatment of vertigo

Vertigo is a fairly common complaint with which patients present to physicians of various profiles, and especially to general practitioners, neurologists, and otorhinolaryngologists. Vertigo is a condition where a person has the illusion of movement or of surrounding objects moving when they are not. Vertigo is a symptom of a wide range of diseases, both benign and life-threatening. Vertigo can have a variety of causes, and the suggested treatment should depend on the cause. Due to the multifactorial etiology of medical care, many patients receive inadequate treatment under the primary healthcare scheme, especially during initial presentation. The main causes of vertigo are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis, vestibular migraine, and cerebrovascular diseases. Patients with other disorders, such as depression and hyperventilation syndrome, may present with complaints of nonrotary vertigo. Differential diagnosis of vertigo can be made using easy-to-perform tests during physical examination, including assessment of nystagmus, Dix-Hallpike maneuver, and blood pressure measurements with head-up tilt table tests. Treatment of patients with complaints of vertigo includes drug and non-drug therapy, depending on the established nosological form. However, due to the multifactorial etiology, many patients receive inadequate treatment under the primary healthcare scheme, especially during initial presentation. The dimensionhydrinate/cinnarizine combination is one of the drugs for the symptomatic treatment of vertigo of various origins in adults.

Post-concussive Dizziness: A Review and Clinical Approach to the Patient

Dizziness is a frequent complaint after head trauma. Among patients who suffer a concussion (mild traumatic brain injury or mTBI), dizziness is second only to headache in symptom frequency. The differential diagnosis of post-concussive dizziness (PCD) can be divided into non-vestibular, central vestibular and peripheral vestibular causes with growing recognition that patients frequently exhibit both central and peripheral findings on vestibular testing. Symptoms that traditionally have been ascribed to central vestibular dysfunction may be due to peripheral dysfunction. Further, our ability to test peripheral vestibular function has improved and has allowed us to identify peripheral disorders that in the past would have remained unnoticed. The importance of the identification of the peripheral component in PCD lies in our ability to remedy the peripheral vestibular component to a much greater extent than the central component. Unfortunately, many patients are not adequately evaluated for vestibular disorders until long after the onset of their symptoms. Among the diagnoses seen as causes for PCD are (1) Central vestibular disorders, (2) Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), (3) Labyrinthine dehiscence/perilymph fistula syndrome, (4) labyrinthine concussion, (5) secondary endolymphatic hydrops, (6) Temporal bone fracture, and (7) Malingering (particularly when litigation is pending). These diagnoses are not mutually exclusive and PCD patients frequently exhibit a combination of these disorders. A review of the literature and a general approach to the patient with post-concussive dizziness will be detailed as well as a review of the above-mentioned diagnostic categories.

Recovery of Regular Daily Physical Activities Prevents Residual Dizziness after Canalith Repositioning Procedures

Objective: Residual dizziness is a disorder of unknown pathophysiology, which may occur after repositioning procedures for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. This study evaluates the relationship between regular daily physical activity and the development of residual dizziness after treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Study Design: Prospective observational cohort study. Setting: Academic university hospital. Methods: Seventy-one patients admitted with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving the posterior semicircular canal were managed with Epley’s procedure. Three days after successful treatment, the patients underwent a telephone interview to investigate vertigo relapse. If the patients no longer complained of vertigo, they were asked about symptoms consistent with residual dizziness. Subsequently, they were asked about the recovery of physical activities they regularly performed prior to the onset of vertigo. Results: Sixty-nine patients (age: 57.79 ± 15.05) were enrolled: five (7.24%) reported vertigo relapse whereas twenty-one of sixty-four non-relapsed patients (32.81%) reported residual dizziness. A significant difference in the incidence of residual dizziness was observed considering the patients’ age (p = 0.0003). Of the non-relapsed patients, 46 (71.88%) recovered their regular dynamic daily activities after treatment and 9 (19.57%) reported residual dizziness, while 12 of the 18 patients (66.67%) who did not resume daily activity reported residual symptoms (p = 0.0003). A logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between daily activity resumption and lack of residual dizziness (OR: 14.01, 95% CI limits 3.14–62.47; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Regardless of age, the resumption of regular daily physical activities is associated with a lack of residual dizziness.

COMPARISON OF EFFICACY OF EPLEY MANOEUVRE AND VESTIBULAR SEDDATIVE IN POSITIONAL VERTIGO

Objective: To carry out the comparison of the effectiveness of Epleys manoeuvre and Vestibular Sedative in the management of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of ENT, Combined Military Hospital Peshawar, from Jul 2019 to Dec 2020. Methodology: The study was conducted on 60 patients who were diagnosed Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo by Dix Hallpike test. The patients were divided into 2 groups of 30 each. Group A was treated with vestibular sedative and group B was treated with Epleys manoeuvre. The examination of all patients was done on day 3, day 7 and day 14 and the results were documented. Results: The study revealed that the 30 cases which were managed by Epleys manoeuvre, 27 cases were completely symptom free after 14 days. Meanwhile from the 30 patients who were treated by oral vestibular sedation, only 5 patients had total recovery on 14th day. Chi square test was used to compare the results. The results showed that Epleys manoeuvre has greater efficacy in the treatment of Epleys man oeuvre than vestibular sedative. Conclusion: Epleys manoeuvre is more effective for the management of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo than vestibular sedative.

COMPARISON OF EFFICACY OF SEMONTS MANOEUVRE VERSUS VESTIBULAR SEDDATIVE IN POSITIONAL VERTIGO

Objective: To carry out the comparison of the effectiveness of Semont manoeuvre and Vestibular Sedative in the management of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of ENT, Combined Military Hospital Peshawar Pakistan, from Jan to Jul 2020. Methodology: The study was conducted on 60 patients who were diagnosed Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo by Dix Hallpike test. The patients were divided into 2 groups of 30 each. Group A was treated with vestibular sedative and group B was treated with Semont manoeuvre. The examination of all patients was done on day 3, day 7 and day 14 and the results were documented. Results: The study was conducted on 60 patients who were diagnosed benign paroxysmal positional vertigo by Dix Hallpike test the study revealed that the 30 cases which were treated by Semont manoeuvre, 25 cases were completely symptom free after 14 days. Meanwhile out of 30 cases which were managed by oral vestibular sedative, only 4 cases showed complete recovery after 14 days. Chi square test was used to compare the results. The results revealed that Semont manoeuvre is more effective in the treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo than vestibular sedative. Conclusion: Semont manoeuvre is more effective in the management of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo than vestibular sedative.